THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

Ex  Libris 

Katharine  F,  Richmond 

and 

Henry  C.  Fall 


0^67, 


\^  ^ty^^/>^CP(yt.''Z-^y^ 


'fjj> 


RELIGIOUS  HISTORY 


South  Hampton,  N.  H. 


AN  APPENDIX. 


EXETER,  N.  H.: 

the  news-letter  steam  job  print. 
i88f. 


INDEX. 


3R    . 


PAGE 

History  of  Congregational  Church 5 

Ancient  Boundaries 5 

Rocky  Hill  Church 6 

Division  of  Parsonage  Land 7 

First  Meeting  House 9 

Rev.  Wm.  Parson's  Settlement 9 

Parsonage  House 12 

Rev.  Wm.  Parson's  Dismissal 16 

Settlement  of  Rev.  Nath'l  Noyes 19 

Sale  of  North  Parsonage  .   .    .   21 

Dismissal  of  Rev.  Nath'l  Noyes 34 

History  of  Baptist  Church  27 

Letter  of  Abigail  Carter 27 

Organization  of  Brentv*fOod  Branch  Church 29 

Records  of  Branch  Church 30 

Records  of  Brentwood  Church 31 

Baptist  Church  Constituted 38 

Meeting-House  Built 41 

Ordination  of  Samuel  C.  Gilbert 43 

Ordination  of  Samuel  Ladd 46 

Ordination  of  E.  A.  Edwards 49 

Death  of  Rev.  S.  E.  Brown 51 

Death  of  Rev.  P.  W.  Tolman 54 

History  of  Free- Will  Baptist  Church 58 

Church  Organized 58 

Ordination  of  Rev.  P.  Hanscom 59 

Removal  of  Church  to  Amcslmry 60 

Other  Religious  History  62 

Sale  of  Parsonage  63 

Universalist  History 63 

Methodi.st  History  65 

Lay  Services 65 

APPENDIX. 

Charter,  Town  of  South  Hampton,  1742 70 

Petition  of  tweuty-cight  persons,  not  to  join  South  Hampton 0!) 

Petition  of  eiglit  persons  to  be  set  off  to  Hampton  Falls 72 

Act  of  1742,  polling  sundry  persons  from  South  Hampton  to  Hampton  Falls  . .  73 

Seabrook  granted,  1768 74 

Agreement  as  to  taxation  between  South  Hampton  and  Seabrook,  1795 75 

Act  of  1822,  establishing  line  between  South  Hampton  and  Seabrook 75 

South  Hampton'.s  i)ublic  property  in  Seabrook  exempt  from  taxation 76 

Agreement  with  Salisbury,  dividing  parsonage  lands,  1743-4 76 

(Quitclaim  Deed,  North  Parsonage,  by  Rev.  Nathaniel  Noyes,  1763 77 

South  Hampton's  vote,  1748,  liberty  to  join  the  New  Town 78 

Act  of  1749,  Thirty  men  to  join  Newtown 79 

Petition,  1770,  to  establish  line  with  Newtown —  81 

Act  of  1772,  establishing  line  between  South  Hampton  and  Newtown 82 

Names  of  those  who  signed  Association  Test,  1776 83 


1066158 


INTRODUCTION. 


By  invitation  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  South  Hampton, 
the  Portsmouth  Baptist  Association  held  its  fifty-second 
annual  session  at  South  Hampton,  on  Wednesday  and 
Thursday,  September  15  and  16,  1880. 

The  Baptist  Church  was  constituted  September  29,  1830, 
and  the  semi-centennial  services  were  held  on  Tuesday,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1880,  at  the  Baptist  Church.  Rev.  S.  S.  White, 
Rev.  John  K.  Chase,  Rev.  Otis  Wing,  Rev.  E.  A.  Edwards, 
former  pastors,  and  others,  participating.  On  Tuesday 
evening,  September  14,  Mr.  B.  R.  Jewell  delivered  a  histori- 
cal address  upon  the  religious  history  of  the  town  other  than 
that  of  the  Baptist  Church.  On  Wednesday  evening,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1880,  the  history  of  the  Baptist  Church  was  given 
by  Mr.  Jewell,  before  a  large  audience.  These  addresses 
attracted  the  attention  of  several  of  the  public  spirit- 
ed citizens,  who  desired  to  have  them  published  in  pamphlet 
form,  and  it  was  also  thought  desirable  to  have  an  appendix 
added,  giving  historical  facts  not  especially  connected  with 
the  religious  histor3^  and  a  committee  consisting  of  F.  B. 
French,  Esq.,  Mr.  P.  P.  Whitehouse  and  Mr.  Jonathan 
Pressey  was  chosen  to  prepare  the  same.  At  the  Town 
Meeting  held  November  2,  1880,  the  town  voted  to  appropri- 
ate $25.00  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  each  resident  tax 
pa3^cr  with  a  copy  of  the  pamphlet  when  printed  ;  and  the 
following  named  citizens  have  generously  contributed  the 
sum  necessary  to  secure  its  publication  :  Joseph  T.  Merrill, 
Jacob  Eaton,  Frederick  B.  French,  Jonathan  Pressey, 
Phineas  P.  Whitehouse,  Moses  J.  Eaton,  James  M.  Jewell, 
Samuel  Eastman,  Isaiah  F.  Purinton,  Rev.  S.  S.  White, 
Barnard  Jewell,  and  the  author,  Benjamin  R.  Jewell. 


THE    RELIGIOUS   HISTORY 


SOUTH    HAMPTON,  N.H 


In  presenting  the  religious  history  of  our  town,  a  prevail- 
ing error  should  be  corrected.  The  New  Hampshire  Gazeteer, 
in  giving  the  early  history  of  the  town,  sa^'s  it  was  formed 
from  i^arts  of  Hampton  and  Kingston.  And  in  the  Court 
Records,  case  of  South  Hampton  vs.  Fowler,  we  find,  De- 
cember, 1872,  N.  H.  Reports,  Vol.  52,  Page  229,  by  Chief 
Justice  Bellows  : 

"The  town  of  Wiunieumett,  soon  changed  to  Hampton,  em- 
braced what  is  now  Nortli  Hampton,  South  Hanii)ton,  Hampton 
Falls,  Kensington,  Seabrook,  and  j^erhaps  other  territory,  all 
taken  at  ditlerent  times  from  Hami)ton,  Avhich  is  now  a  small 
town."  "If  the  title  is  held  to  rest  in  the  new  town  where  the 
land  happens  to  fall,  then  it  would  bo  fatal  to  the  plaintiff's  claim 
to  recover,  as  the  lands  lie  within  the  incorporate  town  of 
.Seal)rook." 

Page  2oO :  "We  have  thus  i-eferred  to  the  existence  of  these 
ancient  towns,  and  the  fact  that  llie  towns  of  Seabrook  and  South 
Hampton  were  formed  out  of  Hampton." 

Prior  to  1741,  the  boundary  line  of  New  IIani[)sliire  and 
IMassachusetts  was  what  is  called  the  Shapley  line,  the  pres- 
ent northern  boundary  of  South  Hampton  being  the  stat(^ 
line,  lience  the  town  was  wholly  a  i)!irt  of  Amesbury  and 
Salisbury-,  extending  from  the  Atlantic  on  the  east  to  the 
town  of  Kingston  on  the  north-Avest,  thence  south  two  and  a 

quarter  miles  to  the  Mitchcl  line,  so-called,  embracing  the 

2 


present  town  ul'  South  Hampton,  nearly  two-thirds  of  the  area 
of  Seahrook,  and  the  easterly  portion  of  the  town  of  Newton. 
The  t(jwn  was  chartered  May  25,  1742,  by  Benning  Went- 
Avorth,  Governor  of  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire  in  the 
reign  of  George  II.  The  first  meeting  was  authorized  to  l>e 
warned  and  called  liy  Joseph  Jewell.  John  Flanders  and 
Henry  Currier,  on  June  7,  1742. 

Previous  to  this  tune  the  people  at  Loggin  Plain  (South 
Hampton  Hill)  Avorshipped  with  the  Second  Church  in  Salis- 
1)ury,  now  known  as  the  Rocky  Hill  Church.  Rev.  Jose[)h 
I'arsous  was  the  pastor.  The  meeting-house  was  then  located 
about  one  mile  north  of  the  present  cliurch  and  near  the 
residence  of  the  hite  Aaron  O.  Morrill  in  Salisbury.  A  move- 
ment was  made  as  early  as  1735  to  have  the  meeting-house 
moved  to  some  other  location,  but  it  was  not  voted  till  1784, 
Avhen  it  was  removed  to  tlie  present  location. 

The  Rock}'  Hill  Church  was  gathered  November  17,  171H, 
and  Rev.  Joseph  Parsons  was  called  to  the  pastorate.  He 
died  March  13,  173!),  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  and 
the  twenty-first  of  his  ministry.  The  church  received  three 
hundred  members  during  his  pastorate.  In  August,  1742, 
Rev.  Sanuiel  Webster,  D.  I).,  accepted  the  call  of  the  church, 
and  died  in  171)G.  in  tlie  liftN'-lifth  year  of  his  ministry.  Up- 
wards of  three  hundred  people -joinetl  the  church  during  his 
ministry,  fifty-three  on  January  4,  1756,  and  seventy-nine 
during  that  year.  Rev.  Andrew  Beatie  was  pastor  from 
June  28,  1797,  to  March  16,  1801.  His  successor  was  Rev. 
William  Pialch,  who  was  pastor  from  1802  to  1816.  From 
IS  16  to  1830  there  was  no  settled  pastor.  At  that  time  Re\-. 
Benjamin  SawA'cr  was  called  to  the  pastorate  and  continued 
in  charge  of  the  churcli  until  his  death,  in  Marcli  1S71. 

In  November,  1735,  the  town  of  Salisbury  voted  that  they 
would  not  hire  a  minister  to  i)rcach  a  third  of  the  time  above 
Powow  Hill,  at  Loggin  Plain,  althougii  land  ibr  the  sup[»ort 
of  the  ministry  had  ))een  set  olf  in  this  division.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1738,    the  town  of  Salisbury  voted  that  the   meeting- 


house  should  uot  be  moved  to  Stillsou  Allen's,  nor  anything 
be  allowed  for  the  support  of  preaehing  to  those  inhabitants 
living  above  Powow  Hill. 

Upon  the  death  of  Rev.  Joseph  Parsons,  in  1739,  Henry 
French  and  sixty-six  others  at  Loggin  Plain,  above  Powow 
Hill,  remonstrated  against  the  settlement  of  another  pastor 
of  the  AVest  Church  in  KSalisl)ury,  unless  the  meeting-house 
was  moved  to  better  accommodate  them.  March  10,  1740, 
ten  persons  are  named  in  the  records  as  excused  from  pa^'ing 
minister  rates  in  Salisbiuy,  if  it  would  l)etter  accommodate 
them  to  attend  and  sup[)ort  the  meeting  at  the  East  Parish 
of  Kingston. 

The  pslrsonagc  land  of  Salisbury-,  in  what  is  now  South 
Hampton,  at  that  time  was  divided  into  six  divisions,  and  is 
thus  recorded  :  ''The  tirst  jjiece  is  from  the  north-east  end  of 
Hampton  line  running  south-westerl}'  about  32  rods  to  a  pop- 
ple tree,  marked,  near  iMr.  Townsend's  fence,  from  wdiich  it 
runs  north-westerly  to  a  pretty  large  hemlock  tree  standing 
on  high  land  near  a  fence  which  Thomas  Flanders  erected. 
The  second  piece  is  from  the  above  said  popple  tree  along  by 
Mr.  Townsend's  line  till  it  conies  square  with  an  ash  stump 
in  a  swamp,  which  stump  is  twelve  rods  from  IMr.  Townsend's 
line,  (A  small  hemlock  is  standing  by  it,  and  both  are  mark- 
ed with  the  letter  p.)  from  which  it  runs  north-westerly  to  a 
dry  hemlock  tree  standing  in  the  same  swamp  and  marked 
with  the  letter  p,  and  is  the  bounds  between  Flanders'  lot 
and  3'e  parsonage  land.  The  third  piece  is  from  said  ash 
stump  south-westerly  about  seventy  rods  to  a  pretty  large 
beech  tree,  marked,  near  Flanders'  line,  thence  across  to  a 
small  Ijcech  tree,  marked,  by  INIr.  Townsend's  fence.  The 
fourth  piece  is  from  the  l)ounds  last  mentioned  soutli-Avester- 
ly  to  a  stake  and  stone  by  Flanders'  line,  a  little  north-cast- 
ward  of  the  swamp  called  ye  loggin  swamp,  and  so  across  to 
Townsend  feucc  The  lifth  piece  is  from  the  above  said 
stake  and  stones  up  to  the  Loggin  Plain  highway.  The  sixth 
piece  is  that  \Vhole  tract  of  land  lying  on  the   south-westerly 


side  of  Loggiu  Plain  highway,  Avhero  the  Iron  Works  now 
stand."  The  several  divisions  of  land  were  the  outside 
pieces  set  apart  for  religious  purposes,  and  were  equally  di- 
vided between  Rev.  Caleb  Cushing  and  Rev.  Samuel  Web- 
ster. The  first  division  is  on  the  present  Kensington  line, 
and  with  divisions  second,  third  and  fourth  extended  to  the 
northern  boundary-  of  the  North  Parsonage ,  and  included  the 
land  now  known  as  the  Badger  farm  and  French  land,  owned 
by  residents  of  Kensington  and  by  the  heirs  of  Thomas  J. 
Goodwin,  Amos  Merrill,  Abel  Brown  and  others,  of  South 
Hampton.  What  was  known  as  Loggin  Swamp  is  probably 
that  now  called  the  New  Meadows.  The  fifth  and  sixth 
divisions  were  afterwards  known  as  the  North  and  South 
Parsonages  in  South  Hampton. 

The  North  Parsonage,  containing  eighteen  acres,  was  situ- 
ated on  the  west  side  of  the  Peak  road  and  probably  cover- 
ing the  location  of  the  residences  of  John  W.  Downing, 
Joseph  W.  Follansbee,  perhaps  that  of  Phillips  White,  and 
extending  to  the  foot  of  Indian  Ground  Hill.  The  South 
Parsonage  contained  about  twent3'-eight  acres  and  extended 
from  Mill  Road  Corner  to  a  point  nearly  opposite  the  present 
pound,  and  thence  running  to  Powow  river,  and  from  thence 
to  the  Mill  Road.  The  border  upon  the  river  was  very  nar- 
row. The  present  owners  of  the  land  are  Barnard  Jewell, 
James  M.  Jewell,  Nathan  Peters,  Joseph  Follansbee,  Nathan 
Paige,  Jacob  C.  Noyes.  Jonathan  Pressey,  L.  O.  Hatch  and 
W.  H.  Fitts.  The  public  buildings  upon  the  same  are  Town 
House,  Barnard  School-house,  Baptist  Meeting-house,  and 
the  school-house.  District  No.  1.  The  new  burying  ground 
is  also  on  the  South  Parsonage  lot. 

At  the  first  town  meeting,  held  June  7.  1742,  it  was 
voted  that  the  selectmen  should  make  the  minister's  rates  for 
the  year  ensuing,  and  it  was  also  voted  that  the  selectmen 
emplo}'  the  Rev.  William  Parsons  to  sui)ply  the  pulpit,  until 
further  orders.  Jul}'  26,  1742,  the  following  vote  was 
passed  :     "Whereas,  we,  the  subscribers,  have  done  consid- 


9 

erable  toward  Imilding  a  meeting-lionse  at  a  place  called 
Loggin  Plain,  in  Sonth  Hampton,  wo  will  give  up  the  said 
meeting-house  to  the  town  for  said  town's  use,  except  one 
set  of  pews  round  the  meeting-liouse  which  we  have  already 
sold  and  laid  the  mone}'  out  toward  building  the  meeting- 
house, and  -we  do  refuse  pay  for  the  same  on  condition  that 
the  meeting-house  remains  in  the  place  it  now  stands." 
Signed  by  Thomas  Merrill,  John  Flanders,  Joseph  JcAvell, 
Joseph  Chandler,  Samuel  Barnard,  James  Morrill,  Paul  Mor- 
rill, Reuben  Currier,  Joseph  Morrill,  Lawrence  Stearns, 
Samuel  Currier,  David  French,  Ebenezer  French,  Nathan 
Gould,  Joseph  Gould,  Abncr  Gould,  Joseph  French,  Nathan- 
iel Morrill,  Henr}'  French,  John  Morrill,  Richard  Collins, 
Joseph  Morrill,  Henry  Currier,  Ezekiel  Morrill,  Reuben  Di- 
mond  and  Richard  Fitts.  September  2,  1742,  the  following 
action  was  taken  in  reference  to  settling  a  minister.  The 
seventh  day  of  September  was  set  apart  as  a  da}-  of  fasting 
and  prayer,  and  a  committee  of  three  appointed  to  discuss 
with  the  ministers  after  the  fast,  how  to  proceed  in  an  order- 
ly manner  to  settle  a  minister. 

September  29,  1742,  the  town  chose  a  committee  to  divide 
the  parsonage  land  with  Salisbury.  October  13,  the  com- 
mittee reported,  "  The  Salisbury  committee  did  not  come  to 
us  and  we  would  not  go  to  them." 

November  2G,  1742,  the  following  vote  was>  passed: 
''Whereas  we,  the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  being  in  present 
want  of  a  pious,  learned  and  orthodox  minister  of  a  good  con- 
versation, to  dispense  the  word  and  administer  the  ordi- 
nances of  our  Lord  Jesus  among  us,  and  it  ])eing  our  duty 
to  look  up  to  Heaven  for  divine  assistance  to  guide  us  in  all 
our  atfairs,  therefore,  voted,  that  Thursda}',  the  second  day  of 
December  next,  ))e  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer, 
in  order  for  the  calling  and  settling  a  gospel  minister  among 
us."  At  the  same  meeting  a  committee  was  chosen  "to  call  in 
the  assistance  of  neighboring  ministers  to  celebrate  the  day 
of  fasting  and  prayer  among  us." 


10 

At  a  legal  meeting  held  Deeemlier  27,  1742,  it  was  voted 
to  give  Rev.  William  Parsons  a  call  "'to  settle  in  tlie  work  of 
the  gospel  ministry  among  ns,"  and  a  committee  was  chosen 
to  carr}'  the  town's  offer  to  him  and  to  receive  his  answer,  on 
Jannary  3,  1743.  It  was  voted  that  we  build  a  convenient 
house  and  barn  for  tlie  use  of  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons.  His  salary 
was  "the  income  of  the  South  Parsonage,  witli  pi'ivilege  to 
cut  wood  for  fire  on  Xortli  Parsonage,  and  forty-five  pounds 
in  bills  of  credit  on  either  province,  at  silver  at  six  shillings 
and  eight  pence  per  ounce."  The  following  is  a  copy  of  Mr. 
Parson's  letter  of  acceptance  : 

"South  HAMrxox,  January  19,  1742-3. 
"It  liaving  pleased  God  to  direct  and  incline  you  to  make 
choice  of  me  to  be  emploj'ed  in  tlie  work  of  the  ministry  among 
3'ou,  and  you  liaving  taken  those  metliods  Avhicli  you  liave 
thouglit  proper,  in  a  solemn  and  important  affair,  and  therefore 
trust  tliat  God  liath  been  witii  you  in  it.  I  do  now  look  upon  my- 
self obliged  in  duty  to  (iod  and  to  you  his  people  to  accept  of  the 
call  you  have  given  me,  and  in  an  humble  sense  of  my  own  im- 
worthiness  of  so  holy  and  honorable  an  affair  as  that  of  minister 
of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Clirist,  I  do  hereby  signify  my  disposition 
and  purpose,  Cod  willing,  to  take  tliis  among  you  upon  me,  and 
Ijeing  sensible  of  my  own  insnilieiency  for  so  worthy  an  under- 
taking, for  wdio  is  sulbcient  for  these  things,  I  do  rely  upon  the 
grace  whicli  tlie  great  and  glorious  head  of  the  church  hath  said 
is  sufficient  for  me,  and  liope  tliat  according  to  His  gracious 
promise  He  will  ever  be  present  witli  me.  Earnestly  requesting 
an  interest  in  your  jjrayers  for  tlie.  same,  tliat  I  may  be  therelty 
an  ornament  to  Religion  and  the  J^vangelical  ministry,  and  a  rich 
blessing  in  the  Church  of  Christ  and  to  that  i)art  of  it  in  this  par- 
ticular place,  and  in  a  particular  manner ;  and  at  tlie  same  time 
I  do  faithfully  acknowledge  the  good  disposition  that  hath  ap- 
peared in  3'ou  toward  my  worldly  support  and  maintenance  among 
you,  which  you  have  voted  and  recorded,  and  which  I  hope  has 
been  as  freely  and  heartily  as  voluntarily  offered  by  you,  and  be- 
lieving the  same  Christian-like  disijosition  that  has  been  already 
discovered  in  j'ou,  is  still  in  you  and  will  be  in  you,  I  encourage 
mj'self,  if  that  should  be  found  to  be  not  sufficient  for  my  comfort- 
able and  honorable  subsistence,  that  you  wdll  not  be  backward  in 
doing  that  shall  appear  further  necessai-y  toward  it.  ITpon  Avhich 
I  trust,  under  Cod,  we  sliall  be  enabled  faithfully  to  discharge 
the  mutual  di;ties  we  owe  to  one  another,  and  that  we  maj"  now 
and  ever  pursue  the  Apostle  rani's  exhortation,  and  walk  agree- 
ably thereto,  in  riiillipians  2  :  14.  So  do  all  things  without  mur- 
muring and  disputing,  that  we  maj'  reap  the  benefits  and  rewards 
in  verses  fifteen  and  sixteen ;   that  we  mav  be  blameless  and 


11 

liarmloss,  the  son>;  ol'dod  williniU  rohuko,  lioldinp,'  forth  tiie  word 
ol'Lith  that  I  may  rojoico  in  the  day  orciirisl,  lliat  I  liave  not  run 
in  vain  neitlier  laborod  in  vain. 

"WILLIAM  rARSONS." 

The  ehureli  was  oi'o-anizcd  February  22,  1743,  The  ser- 
vices were  as  follows:  "The  Rev.  Mr.  Secomb,  of  Kino-ston, 
began  with  prayer;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whipple,  of  IIani[)t()u 
Falls,  preached  from  the  text,  'Where  there  is  no  vision,  the 
people  perish.'  The  Rev.  Mr.  Coffin,  of  East  Kingston,  eon- 
eluded  with  pra3'er."  The  council  consisted  of  the  elders 
and  delegates  from  the  two  churches  in  Salisbury,  First 
Church  in  Exeter,  Second  Church  in  Hampton,  First  Cluirch 
in  Bradford,  the  church  in  Kensington,  the  church  in  the 
parish  of  North  Hampton,  and  the  Second  Clnirch  in  Kings- 
ton. 'Rev.  Caleb  Cushing,  of  Salisbury,  was  moderator. 
The  council  having  heard  and  considered  the  objections 
against  the  organization  of  the  church,  voted  to  proceed. 
Pra3'er  was  offered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons,  of  Bradford  ;  the 
covenant  was  read  by  Rev.  Mr.  Odlin,  of  Exeter,  to  the 
members,  and  upon  their  united  assent  to  it,  incorporated 
them  into  a  church  by  themsevles,  according  to  the  rules  and 
order  of  the  Gospel,  ivcommending  them  to  tlie  grace  of 
God,  and  then  Mr.  Odlin  preached  a  sermon  to  them  upon 
tlie  text,  "Let  us  therefore  follow  after  the  things  that  make 
for  peace  and  things  whereby  we  may  edify  another,"  and 
concluded  with  prayer,  and  the  council  adjourned  to  meet  the 
next  day.  The  council  met  according  to  adjourniuont,  and 
proceeded  to  the  ordination  of  Rev.  William  Parsons  to  the 
work  of  the  gospel  ministry.  Rev.  Mr.  Coffin,  of  Kingston, 
offered  praj'er ;  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons,  of  Bradford,  preached 
from  John  21:1."),  10.  Rev.  Mr.  Cushing,  of  Salisl)ury, 
gave  the  charge,  Rev.  Mr.  Whii)ple,  of  Hampton  Falls,  the 
right  hand  of  fellowsliip,  the  Rev.  iVIr.  \Vel)ster,  of  Salishiu-y, 
made  the  last  prayer,  tlie  one  hundred  and  twenty-second 
Psalm  was  sung  and  the  assembly  dismissed. 

Rev.  William  Pai'sons,  Tiionias  Merrill  ami   twelve   others 
constituted    the    lirst     Congregational    ehmcli.      One     month 


12 

later,  on  Lord's  day,  March  20,  1743,  thirty-nine  were  ad- 
mitted by  letter  from  the  Rocky  Hill  Church,  and  three  new 
members.  From  this  date  to  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Parsons, 
in  17G2,  sixty-one  were  admitted  to  the  clmreh  b^-  letter,  and 
one  hundred  and  fourteen  new  members.  In  January,  1743, 
the  town  voted  to  build  a  parsonage  house  on  the  south  lot, 
thirt3'-eight  feet  long,  twenty-eight  feet  wide,  studding  six- 
teen feet,  to  be  finished  within  two  years,  at  a  cost  of  five- 
hundred  and  thirty-eight  pounds,  old  tenor.  In  December, 
1743,  the  town  voted  to  build  a  })arsonage  barn,  to  be  finished 
within  eighteen  months,  its  dimensions  l)eiug  tliirty-two 
feet  length,  twenty-four  feet  width,  posts  twelve  feet.  Tlie 
cost  fifty  pounds,  old  tenor. 

Very  early  in  the  history  of  the  town  the  inhabitants  of 
that  part  which  is  now  in  tlie  town  of  Newton  were  dissatis- 
fied with  their  accommodations  for  religions  worship,  and  on 
September  29,  1742,  the  following  vote  was  passed: 
"Whereas,  there  are  a  number  of  inhabitants  of  the  town  that 
live  at  considerable  distance  from  meeting,  and  the}'  have 
thought  in  time  to  be  better  accommodated  than  constantly 
to  assemble  with  us,  and  we  being  desirous  to  exercise  all 
Christian  regard  and  kindness  to  them,  vote,  first,  that  all 
those  persons  that  live  above  or  to  the  westward  of  Captain 
Jonathan  Currier's,  that  have  a  mind  to  go  off  and  be  a 
parish  shall  have  their  extraordinar}'  charges  that  they  are 
now  at,  among  us,  paid  back  again  to  them  ;  that  is,  all  their 
part  of  the  extraordinary  charges  that  shall  arise  to  them  by 
finishing  the  meeting-house,  settling  a  minister  and  building 
for  him,  when  the}'  shall  be  thought  capable  by  lawful  author- 
ity to  maintain  the  gospel  of  Christ  among  them,  provided 
they  do  not  molest  or  hinder  us  at  the  other  part  in  our 
speedy  settling  a  gospel  minister  among  us,  and  that  they 
pay  toward  his  support  while  they  are  of  us  and  belong  to  us, 
hoping  at  the  same  time  they  will  of  their  own  free  wills  be 
assisting  to  us.  Secondly,  voted,  that  we  will  make  no 
opposition  to  tlieni  in  their  endeavors  to  be  a  regular  town 


13 

or  parish,  whenever  they  shall  he  thought  capahle  l\y  lawful 
authority." 

What  is  now  known  as  the  Mill  road  was  laid  out  thi'ough 
the  parsonage  land  in  1745. 

On  March  7,  1748,  the  town,  after  five  years  of  contention 
with  Salislnuy,  agreed  upon  a  division  of  the  parsonage  lands 
of  the  two  towns  upon  the  following  basis  :  "Whereas,  Capt. 
John  Morrill,  Capt.  Elias  Pike  and  I)ea.  John  Morrill  were 
legallj"  chosen  a  committee  hy  the  town  of  Salisbury,  and 
Reuben  Dimond,  Joseph  French,  Jr.,  and  Ephraim  Brown 
were  legall}'  chosen  a  committee  hy  the  town  of  South  Hamp- 
ton, to  agi'ee  and  set-off  to  the  town  of  South  Hampton  their 
proportion  of  the  parsonage  lands  that  were  formerly  laid 
out  within  the  ancient  boundaries  of  Salisbury',  and  it  was 
agreed  upon  by  both  committees  that  that  part  of  South 
Hampton  which  was  Salisbur}-  shonld  have  that  part  of  the 
parsonage  lands  lying  in  South  Hampton  in  the  Mill  division, 
l^'ing  on  the  south  side  of  the  highway  and  butting  on  Powow 
river,  and  eighteen  acres  of  the  addition  of  the  parsonage 
land  on  the  north  side  of  the  highway  for  their  proportion, 
reserving  to  Salisbury'  a  driftwaj' ;  therefore,  voted,  that  the 
agreement  made  by  said  committee  shall  be  recorded  on  each 
town  book  of  records  and  there  remain  for  a  perpetual 
agreement  and  a  final  determination  of  the  premises." 

Three  months  later  the  town  voted,  "That  whereas  there 
are  a  number  of  persons,  that  live  at  the  west  end  of  the 
town,  that  think  they  can  better  accommodate  themselves  l)y 
joining  with  their  neighbors  for  a  meeting-house,  than  con- 
stantly' to  assemble  with  us,  and  w(!  being  willing  to  show 
them  all  Christian  regard  and  kindness,  vote  that  all  those 
persons  that  live  at  the  west  end  of  this  town  that  have  a 
mind  to  go  off,  shall  Iiave  the  liberty'  to  i)oll  off  themselves 
and  theii"  estates  and  join  with  their  neighbors  in  the  district 
for  a  parish  in  all  affairs,  provided  the}'  poll  off  or  file  a  list 
of  their  names  with  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  within 
thirty    days    Ihnw    the    day    of    the     dntc    thereof."       Soon 


14 

after  it  was  chartered,  South  Hampton  lost  several  ol' 
its  inhabitants  hy  their  polling  oft"  to  other  parishes.  In 
Noveniher,  1742,  John  Collins  and  seven  others  were 
polled  oft'  to  Hampton  Falls,  heeanse  they  were  more 
than  six  miles  from  the  meeting-honsc  in  South  Hamp- 
ton. Tlie  same  year  John  Page  and  Benjamin  Baker  desircMl 
to  1)e  polled  otf  to  Hampton  Falls  f(jr  the  convenience  of  the 
privilege  of  public  worship,  but  the  town  remonstrated  to  the 
(ieneral  Assembly,  and  their  selectmen  said,  "Every  man 
cannot  have  an  equal  privilege  in  going  to  public  worship," 
but  the}-  have  laid  out  a  highwa}'  to  Dr.  Page's  house 
(probabl}-  the  Peak  road),  and  they  further  claim  that  the 
meeting-house  is  nearer  than  the  one  at  Hampton  Falls,  and 
that  they  would  not  attend  worship  there,  but  at  Salisbury, 
"as  their  practice  now  is,  and  now  thirteen  families  from 
Salisbury  attend  here."     The  petition  was  dismissed. 

The  agitation  for  a  new  town  was  l)egun  at  the  west  part 
of  the  town  as  earh'  as  1742,  by  Jonathan  Farmer  and  twen- 
ty-six others.  They  protested  against  the  settlement  of 
William  Parsons  and  the  organization  of  the  church  ;  they 
desired  the  new  town  to  be  bounded  on  the  east  In-  the 
Powow  river,  and  South  Hampton,  through  its  selectmen,  re- 
monstrated. The  remonstrants  said  if  the  line  for  the 
boundar}'  proposed  l\v  the  said  Farmer  and  others  was  adopt- 
ed, it  would  come  within  a  mile  of  the  South  Hampton  meet- 
ing-house, and  the}'  would  take  all  h'ing  Avest  of  the  meeting- 
house save  four  houses,  and  it  would  make  them  that  live  far 
from  the  meeting-house  on  the  east  side  dissatisfied,  and  if 
their  prayer  was  granted  we  asked  to  be  joined  to  the  Ken- 
sington parish.  Thomas  Fowler  and  Joseph  Fowler  remon- 
strated against  a  new  parish  and  recommended  a  removal  of 
the  meeting-house  in  this  town. 

The  ))oun(lar3-  line  of  Newton,  or  the  Amesbur}'  district, 
was  from  a  point  near  the  residence  of  Dr.  J.  G.  Gale  to 
Country  Pond.  Thus  the  part  of  Newton  now  in  the  pre- 
cincts of  the  parish  of  the   Christian  Church  was  in  Soutli 


15 

Hampton.  In  accordance  with  the  vote  of  South  Hampton, 
in  June,  1748,  thirty  famihes  polled  oft' and  made  a  part  of 
Newton,  whieli  was  chartered  December  G,  1749.  There 
were  other  famiUes  in  the  portion  of  South  Hampton  tliat  is 
now  Newton,  tliat  did  not  poll  oft".  Thus  neighl)ors,  side  by 
side  on  the  same  street,  were  residents  of  ditferent  towns. 
In  17G8,  Jonathan  Currier  and  others  desired  to  l)e  polled  off 
to  Newton  on  account  of  convenience,  claiming  they  were 
but  half  a  mile  from  the  Newton  meeting-house  and  four 
miles  from  that  in  South  Hampton,  but  the  General  Assem- 
bly dismissed  the  petition.  In  1770  the  selectmen  of  South 
Hampton  petitioned  for  a  settlement  of  the  boundary  line 
between  this  town  and  Newton.  Daniel  Pierce,  Capt.  John 
Giddings  and  Dr.  Ebenezer  Tucker  were  the  committee  ap- 
pointed, and  the  present  boundary  line  snbstantially  was 
agreed  upon. 

The  discipline  of  the  First  Church  in  1743  and  1744  was 
rigid.  Tlie  rules  required  that  persons  seeking  membership 
should  be  propounded  two  weeks,  and  for  "owning  the  cov- 
enant" and  having  their  children  baptized,  one  week  ;  that 
the}'  should  observe  the  sacrament  ten  times  in  the  year ; 
that  every  communicant  should  pay  towards  the  support  of 
the  Lord's  table.  If  any  person  absented  himself  three  Sun- 
da3's  from  public  worship  he  was  considered  an  offender.  If 
any  church  member  should  invite  any  minister  to  preach  in 
his  house  without  the  consent  of  both  pastor  and  church,  he 
should  be  counted  an  offender.  This  last  vote  was  annulled 
in  175G.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  suppress  "any  dis- 
orders and  views  held  among  them."  Cases  of  discipline 
were  constantly  coming  before  the  church,'  and  public  ad- 
monitions were  not  uncommon.  In  1747,  the  church  voted, 
if  "any  persons  lay  their  heads  down  in  an  indecent  manner 
to  sleep  in  the  house  of  God  in  the  time  of  public;  worship 
they  shall  be  looked  upon  as  offenders  ;"  and  voted,  also, 
that  the  deacons  be  the  persons  to  take  notice  of  such  as  do 
thus    and    In    inform   fhc   chiircli   of  them.      In  1718,  it  was 


16 

voted  that  a  number  of  persons  be  cliosen  to  tari'y  and  read 
in  tile  nieelin2:-]ionse  Iietween  meetings  in  tlie  summer  sea- 
son. 

Jul}'  3,  1755,  Samuel  Currier  was  chosed  deacon. 

Rev.  IMr.  Parsons  made  complaint  in  regard  to  his  salar}' 
being  inadequate  to  his  support,  and  the  town  voted,  in  17G0, 
a  gift  of  two  hundred  pounds,  old  tenor,  to  him,  and  in  1762 
the}'  voted  two  hundred  and  fift}'  pounds  to  him.  At  a 
church  meeting,  held  July  29,  17G2,  the  following  communi- 
cation was  read  : 

"South  IIamptox,  July  29,  17G2. 
"To  THE  Church  OFCiirasT  in  this  Place. — My  Brethren  :  1 
trust  j-ou  cannot  but  l)e  sensible  that  I  have  for  a  considerable 
time  l)een  laboring  under  difficulties.  I  was  loth  to  lay  tliem  be- 
fore you,  but  they  have  for  so  long  a  time  pressed  me  so  hard 
that  1  am  quite  overcome  and  can  no  longer  refrain  from  opening 
myself  to  you  and  requesting  that  of  you  which  I  now  believe  to 
be  the  only  remed3^  For  some  time  after  I  settled  with  j'ou,  as 
my  heart  was  with  you,  so  jon  gave  me  no  reason  to  doubt  but 
your  hearts  were  Avith  me,  and  in  such  a  situation  I  was  and  still 
should  be  ready  to  live  and  die  with  you.  But  though  I  can  truly 
say  I  have  made  it  my  endeavor,  iaithfully  to  serve  you  in  the 
(iospel  of  Christ  according  to  the  capacity  which  God  hath  given 
me  (while  my  temporal  supj^ort  has  been  so  small  as  not  by  any 
means  to  make  me  comfortable  in  life),  yet  I  have  not  of  late 
years  met  with  that  acceptance  of  my  labors  among  you  which  I 
had  reason  to  hope  for ;  l)ut  such  frequent  comiDlaints  from  a  con- 
siderable number  as  have  at  length  quite  dispirited  me,  very 
much  impaired  my  health  and  made  me  very  incaisable  of  pro- 
ceeding in  any  very  great  work  among  you,  and  therefore  I  judge 
I  have  a  call  of  Providence  to  seek  a  dismission  from  my  pastoral 
relation  to  you.  And  though  Avith  some  reluctancy  (as  I  have 
reason  to  believe  myself  still  dear  to  some  of  you),  I  do  hereby 
request  in  the  first  place,  that  you  will  signify  j'our  minds  that  1 
should  be  honoraljly  dismissed  from  the  pastoral  relation  to  jow 
which  I  sustain,  and  secondly  that  you  will  join  with  me  in  call- 
ing a  council  to  confirm  the  same.  So  praying  that  jow  may  be 
directed  in  this  important  concern  to  that  which  shall  be  most  for 
the  interest  of  religion  in  this  place,  the  peace  and  prosperity  of 
the  church  and  my  own  present  comfort  and  future  felicity,  I  sub- 
scribe, 

"Your  Pastor, 

"WILLIA^M  PARSONS." 

The  church  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and  the 
deacons  were  instructed  to  invite  the  Rev.   Mr.  Coffin,  of 


17 

East  Kingston,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hibbard,  of  Amcsbury,  to 
come  and  assist  in  tlic  solemnities  of  the  da}'.  September  9, 
1762,  tlie  cliurcli  voted  tliat  the  request  of  tlie  pastor  be 
granted,  out  of  consideration  of  tlie  great  and  insupportable 
discouragements  which  we  lind  him  laboring  under,  and  out 
of  a  tender  regard  for  his  life,  liealth  and  comfort,  and  we 
join  with  him  in  calling  a  council.  October  6,  17G2,  the 
town,  at  a  legal  meeting,  invited  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons  to  api)ear 
before  them  and  give  his  reasons  wh}'  he  desired  to  be  dis- 
missed from  the  pastorate.  He  complied  with  their  request, 
and  said  that  he  could  "give  no  other  reasons  than  those  he 
had  given  to  the  church  before,  and  that  is  by  reason  of 
some  persons  being  uneasy  with  my  doctrine  and  dissenting 
with  me  from  time  to  time,  and  I  could  give  them  no  satis- 
faction, although  I  have  endeavored  to  deliver  the  word  to 
my  people  in  the  clearest  light  according  to  the  capacity  that 
it  has  pleased  God  to  bestow  upon  mc.  You  are  sensible 
that  nn-  salar}-  is  very  low,  and  I  feel  incapable  of  carrying 
on  the  work  of  the  ministry,  therefore  I  desire  that  you  will 
vote  my  dismission  from  my  ministerial  care  over  yon 
in  this  place."  At  first  the  town  voted  not  to  dismiss  him, 
but  after  fiulher  consideration  and  advice  of  the  council, 
which  was  that  day  convened  at  the  parsonage  house,  the 
vote  was  reconsidered  and  the  following  substituted : 
"Whereas,  our  pastor.  Rev.  William  Parsons,  has  signilii'd 
to  the  church  and  people  of  this  place  that  ])}•  reason  ol' 
many  and  great  discouragements  he  is  disabled  both  as  to 
body  and  mind  to  carry  on  the  work  of  tiie  ministry,  allliough 
we  earnestly  desire  all  his  dilliculties  might  be  removed  and 
he  continued  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  among  us,  and  are 
willing  on  our  part  to  supi)ort  and  encourage  him  in  it;  yet 
the  town  being  now  met,  vote  that  the  mattcu-  be  left  to 
the  council  called  l)y  Rev.  William  Parsons  and  tlu'  chnrcii 
on  this  occasion,  and  now  met;  and  if  thry  jiidgr  tliiit  iir,  is 
not  al)le  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  and  lln-y  tiiink 
it  nc(M]fnl.  we  consent  to  his  dismissal,  otherwise  we  cannot 


18 

be     willing."     The     decision    of    the    cluirrh     was    as     fol- 
lows : 

"We,  the  Elders  ;unl  Messengers  ut'  the  tirst  church  uf  Christ 
in  Hampton,  the  first  and  second  chnrches  in  Salisbury,  the 
church  in  Xorthanipton  and  the  first  church  in  Exeter,  being  met 
in  Council,  upon  mature  Deliberation  come  to  the  following  Re- 
sult : 

"1.  That  it  appears  to  the  Council  to  be  the  earnest  and  steady 
Desire  of  the  llev.  William  Parsons  to  be  dismissed  from  his 
Pastoral  Relation  to  this  people. 

"2.  It  appears  from  the  vote  of  the  church,  whk-h  they  .still 
abide  by,  to  be  their  desire  also,  that  he  be  dismissed,  and  that 
they  are  sensible  his  discouragements  are  insupportalde. 

"3.  That  by  the  vote  of  the  town,  it  appears  that  though  they 
are  very  desirous  of  his  continuance  witii  them  if  he  could  go  on 
contented!}'  and  cheerfully  in  his  work,  and  are  willing  to  give 
him  all  due  encouragement,  yet  if  this  Council  judge  him  so  dis- 
couraged as  to  be  unalde  to  go  on  with  his  work,  they  consent  he 
should  be  dismissed. 

"4.  Voted  that  though  the  church  appears  to  have  been  quite 
too  hasty  in  transacting  so  great  and  important  an  affair  as  the 
absolutely  dismissing  their  Pastor,  without  an  J^cclesiastieal 
Council,  contrary  to  the  usual  custom  of  churches  of  CUirist  in  this 
Land,  and  therefore  we  cannot  in  form  confirm  their  vote  accord- 
ing to  their  desire,  yet 

"5.  It  appearing  to  us  that  the  Rev.  ]\Ir.  Parsons"  Discourage- 
ments are  such  as  in  a  great  measure,  to  our  grief,  disable  him 
for  going  on  with  his  ministr}'  in  this  place,  we  cannot  but  judge 
it  advisable  that  both  his  pastoral  and  ministerial  Relation  to  this 
people  be  dissolved.  And  now  Ave  cannot  but  heartily  mourn 
with  the  many  that  are  mourning  in  this  place  at  our  loosing  so 
good  a  neighbor  in  the  ministry  and  the}',  so  worthy  and  excel- 
lent a  pas|.or,  so  sound  in  the  faith,  of  so  exemplary  conversation 
and  so  generally  esteemed  and  valued  in  all  the  neighboring 
churches  where  he  hath  ministered.  And  we  heartily  reconmiend 
him  and  his  family  to  the  grace  of  God,  the  care  of  his  Providence 
and  to  the  Eellowship  of  the  churches  wherever  their  Ivott  shall 
be  cast,  and  shall  rejoice  if  a  Door  may  be  opened  for  his  yet 
again  ministering  to  the  Saints. 

"Finally.  We  heartily  reconmiend  the  people  in  this  place  to 
the  Grace  and  Mere}-  of  God  and  the  care  of  the  great  Head  of  the 
church,  the  Princ^e  of  Peace.  Earnestly  entreating  them  to  re- 
flect seriously  upon  the  great  and  heavy  Frown  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence which  is  now  upon  them  and  so  to  humble  themselves 
under  the  Hand  of  God,  as  that  he  may  exalt  them  in  his  due 
time,  and  we  earnestly  pray  you.  Brethren,  with  the  holy  Apostle 
to  mark  them  who  cause  divisions  and  offences  contrary  to  the 
Doctrine  ye  have  learned  and  to  avoid  them,  &  to  study  the 
things  that  make  for  i'eace,  &  whereby  we  may  edify  one  another. 
Let  nothing,  we  beseech  you,  as  in  the  bowels  of  Jesus  Christ, 


19 

be  done  through  strife  and  vain  glory,  but  in  lowliness  of  mind 
let  each  esteem  other  better  than  himself.  Let  all  your  things  be 
done  with  charity  and  Endeavour  to  the  utmost  as  becometh 
Saints  to  unite  in  love  in  all  things  which  concern  the  House  of 
(iod  and  the  Interest  of  the  lledeemer's  Kingdom  among  you,  so 
shall  we  still  hope  that  (iod  hath  yet  rich  mercy  in  store  for  you, 
and  that  he  will  give  you  another  Pastor  after  his  own  Heart  that 
will  feed  you  with  knowledge  and  understanding,  and  make  you 
that  happy  people  whose  God  is  the  Lord."' 

[mes.sexgkks.] 
WAKL)  COTTON,  Moderator. 

])anh:l  s.vnboun. 

samuel  batchelder. 
[ministeus.]  john  odlix. 

samuel  brooks, 
nat'l  (k)()kin.  john  buswell. 

sa^hiel  webster.  jonathan  stlvens. 

W0()I)BRH:)0E  ODLIN.  RUEBEN  MORRILL. 

EDMUND  NOYES.  NATHANH<:L  FITTS. 

Tlii«  closed  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  William  Parsons.  For 
nearly  twenty  years  he  had  been  laboring  with  the  [)eople, 
and  the  records  show  that  he  had  baptised  three  hundred 
and  fort3'-four  children  and  solenniizcd  one  hundred  and 
lifty-five  marriages.  It  was  during  his  ministry  that  the 
great  revival  in  New  England  was  enjoyed,  lie  was  a  native 
of  Boston,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  class  of  1785,  and 
died  in  1797,  aged  eighty-two  years.  After  his  tlisniissal  at 
South  llam[)ton,  he  removed  to  Gilmanton,  N.  II.,  where  he 
continued  preaching,  and  also  engaged  in  teaching. 

Noveml)cr  i.  1762,  the  town  voted  that  a  connnittee  l»e 
appointed  to  call  in  some  pious,  learned,  orthodox  candidate 
of  a  good  conversation,  to  the  word  among  us  at  the  i)rcscnt. 
Dcccmlicr  10,  the  church  voted  to  appoint  a  day  ol'  fasting 
and  prayer,  and  six  clergymen  from  tlie  adjoining  towns 
were  invited  to  assist  in  the  exercises  and  solenniitit's  of  the 
<i;iy.  December  21),  17()2,  the  church  and  congregiilioii  met 
at  the  meeting-house  at  10  a.  m.,  and  listened  to  a  prayer  by 
Rev.  Mv.  Hall,  of  Newbury  ;  Rev,  Mr.  Ciuindler,  of  liowley, 
l)r<_'aclu'd  from  Kpli.  1:11,  and  in  the  after  pMi't  of  llic  d;iy 
Rev.  JNIr.  Odlin,  of  Kxeter,  led  in  the  lii'st  [>rayer,  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Parsons  [)reachcd  from  Matt.  U  :  o8.     The  same  day,  the 


20 

town  voted  to  call  Mr.  Natlmuiel  No3'es  as  a  candidate  upon 
probation  in  order  for  settleraout  in  the  gospel  ministry 
among  us. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  cliureli  held  January  24,  1763,  a  pas- 
toral call  was  formally  extended  to  Mr.  Nathaniel  No^es. 
On  the  same  da^-  the  town  assembled,  being  legally-  warned, 
and  voted  unanimousl}'  to  give  Mr.  Nathaniel  No3'es  a  call 
to  settle,  and  also  that  Mr.  No3-es  should  have  the  use  of  the 
parsonage  house  and  barn,  and  to  keep  them  in  repair  for 
him,  and  the  use  of  the  parsonage  land,  and  the  town  will 
keep  the  south  [)arsonage  fence  in  repair  till  they  fence  it  in 
with  a  good  stone  wall,  and  the  salary  shall  be  eighty-  pounds 
lawful  money  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  or  its  equivalent  in 
Hampshire  mone}'.  Mr.  Xo3-es  accepted  the  church's  call 
and  invitation,  and  gave  his  answer  as  follows  : 

"BhETHKEX  of  the  C'lILKClI  OF  ClIKIST  IN  SoUTlI    HAMPTON. 

— I  received  by  ye  hands  of  your  committee  your  invitation  and 
call  to  ye  work  of  ye  gospel  ministrj^  among  j'ou,  wdierein  I  see 
3'ou  have  proceeded  agreeable  to  ye  order  of  ye  gospel,  and  it  is 
with  jileasure  I  observe  }-our  nnitv  of  alt'ection  toward  me,  con- 
sidering ve  strategeras  which  have  been  made  to  divide  j^ou ; 
therefore  1  cannot  denv  but  ve  concurring  Providence  of  God 
with  your  mianinious  invitation  is  ye  voice  of  God  for  me  to  ac- 
cept 3'onr  call :  therefore  I  now  accept  and  am  free  to  take  ye 
Pastoi'al  care  of  this  church,  trusting  you  will  walk  in  unit}'  and 
love  and  walk  as  becomes  ^e  people  of  (jod,  ever  bearing  me 
upon  your  minds  before  ye  throne  of  Grace,  that  I  may  be  a  rich 
and  increasing  blessing  to  3'ou  and  approve  myself  a  wise,  meek 
and  faithful  minister  of  je  New  Testament.  And  may  the  King 
of  Zion  own  and  bless  us  with  liis  kind  presence  and  delight  to 
make  us  a  hoi}-  Soeiet\%  sanctified  by  his  Spirit,  enriched  with 
every  Christian  grace  and  in  time  made  meet  to  join  the  church 
triumphant  in  (ilorj-. 

"XATIFL  XOYES." 
"January  21,  1763. " 

In  Fel3rnar3-  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Noyes,  agreeable  to 
the  vote  of  the  church  submitted  to  them  a  confession  of 
faith,  and  on  February  23  (just  twent3'  years  from  the  ordi- 
nation of  Mr.  Parsons),  he  was  ordained.  Prayer  b3'  Kev. 
Moses  Parsons,  of  Newbur3-  Byfield  ;  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship by  Rev.  Moses  Hall,  of  Newbury  ;  charge  to  the  church 


21 

1)V  Rev.  Jedidiali  Jewett.  of  Rowley- ;  sermon  b}-  Rev.  James 
Chandler,  of  Rowley,  Rom.  15 :  29.  "And  I  am  sure 
when  I  foiiu'  among  you  1  shall  come  in  the  fullness  of 
the  blessing"  of  the  (iospel  of  Christ."  Concluding  prayer 
by  Rev.  Thomas  llibbard,  of  Amcsbury.  and  after  singing 
the  \'.)'2d  Psalm  the  assembly  was  dismissed.  In  March 
following,  the  church  voted  to  introduce  Watts'  Ilynms,  and 
the  pastor  was  directed  to  instruct  tlie  chihlren  in  the  Assem- 
bly's Shorter  Catechism. 

April  14.  17()o.  the  town  voted  to  sell  the  N(jrtli  Parsonage 
lot.  and  .rames  Boswell  subsequently  purchased  it.  This 
was  the  beginning  <^f  wrong  doing  in  the  disposal  of  proper- 
ty, the  income  of  which  was  designed  to  be  kept  forever  for 
the  supjKjrt  of  the  ministi-y  of  the  word.  Mr.  Boswell  did 
not  pay  as  agreed  iii)on,  and  foi-  years  it  was  a  subject  of 
controversy  at  the  town  meetings.  The  interest  of  the 
money  was  faithfully  rendered  and  paid  to  Rev.  Mr.  Noyes, 
as  a  part  of  his  salary.  About  tliis  time  the  town  voted  to 
Rev.  William  Parscms  the  sum  of  nine  hundred  pounds,  old 
tenor,  lor  liual  settlement  in  regard  to  imi)rovements  in 
fences,  etc..  on  i)arsonage  lot  and  l)uildings. 

March  "21.  1701,  Eliphalet  CiU'riei- and  Benjamin  liai-nard 
were  chosen  deacons. 

From  the  early  [)art  of  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Noyes  to  its 
close,  the  church  had  cases  of  ilisci[)line  lliat  must  have 
sorely  tried  the  Chiistian  faith  of  the  good  man.  Even  the 
oftlce  bearei-s  ol"  the  church  were  guilty  of  a  disorderly  walk 
and  practically  cast  contempt  upon  the  church.  Letters  of 
admonition  were  written  l)y  the  jjastor'  and  most  persistent 
elforts  made  to  liarmoni/e  tlie  atfaii's  of  the  church.  October 
30,  17()((,  ;i  complaint  was  made  against  two  sisters  of  the 
chnrch  foi-  stri\ing  and  (jnarreiling  on  the  Lord's  day,  and 
the  chnrcli  met  to  consick-r  tlu'  complaint.  Both  otfending 
sistei's  were  pi'csent  and  aibnitteil  tlie  chai-ge  to  be  true. 
They  were  debarred  from  comnmnion  and  directed   to   make 

humble   acknowledgment  to  each    (jtlier.     They  did  so,  ac- 
3 


22 

knowU'diiing  tlu'ir  sin  ;i;>:un.st  God  and  the  churcli,  and  in 
tlio  language  of  penitents  desired  forgiveness.  Tlie}"  vTere 
reeei\('d  again  to  tlie  fellowsliip  of  the  cluireli  and  a  service 
I'ollowfd.  in  wliicli  religions  exhortation  was  ad<lressed  to  the 
sisters.  In  177'J  a  charge  was  ln'ought  against  one  of  the 
nienilxM's  for  profanity.  intenii)ei'ance  and  indecent  behavior, 
and  the  church  xoted  that  the  otlendcr  l»v  his  profane  swear- 
ing. intenii)erate  drinking  and  contemptuous  treatment  of  the 
chuivh  had  rendered  himself  unfit  for  communion  with  the 
church  in  spiritual  church  ordinances,  and  onght  to  be  ad- 
monished. The  pastor.  Deact)n  Merrill  and  Deacon  Barnard 
were  chosen  to  draw  up  the  admonition.  From  the  year 
1772  there  was  a  great  falling  off  in  interest  in  the  preaching 
of  aVFr.  Xoyes  :  the  people  were  engrossed  in  the  stirring 
events  pre})aratory  to  the  l)reaking  out  of  the  War  for  Inde- 
pendence, and  many  were  chafing  under  the  regular  ministe- 
lial  tax.  whiU-  they  dissented  from  tlu'  doctrine  tauglit.  For 
many  reasons,  the  salaiy  prmnised  Mr.  Xo3-es  was  not  full}' 
paid.  In  17-SO  he  asked  for  only  two-thirds  of  the  sum  he 
had  f(.)rmerly  received.  In  1787  the  mone}'  for  which  the 
North  Parsonage  was  sold  was  taken  from  the  hands  of  a 
special  connnittee  and  put  into  the  hands  of  the  selectmen, 
and  by  them  accounted  for.  In  1701  the  town  asked  Rev. 
Mr.  Xoyes  to  abate  some  part  of  his  salary,  in  consideration 
of  the  minister  tax  being  so  high  and  so  manj'  refusing  to 
pay  the  same,  and  jNIr.  Xoyes  generousl}-  acceded  to  their 
request,  and  the  following  minute  is  upon  the  records  :  "To 
return  the  Kev.  Xathaniel  Xo>es  thanks  for  the  gift  he  made 
the  town  in  times  past,  and  to  return  the  same  by  a  commit- 
tee consisting  of  Ensign  Isaiah  Dole,  Lieutenant  Reuben 
Currier,  Capt.  Benjamin  Barnard,  Deacon  Eliphalet  Merrill, 
Abel  Brown  and  Jacob  Collins. 

On  the  20th  of  October,  1800,  in  a  warrant  for  a  town 
meeting  of  the  supporters  or  taxpa3'ers  to  Rev.  Xathaniel 
Xoyes,  the  following  article  was  inserted  :  "To  see  if  those 
of  the  inhabitants  of  said  town  afore  mentioned  will  choose  a 


23 

committee  to  go  to  Hev.  Mr.  Xoyes,  as  he  is  desirous  of 
making  some  proposals,  liow  lie  will  leave  the  town,  as  he 
liath  requested  a  meeting  for  that  purpose,  and  that  the  com- 
mittee sliall  malv'e  a  report  of  tlie  proposals  that  he  shall 
make  to  them,  and  to  act  therc^ou  as  they  shall  think  proi)er." 
The  meeting  was  held,  and  the  following  committee  chosen 
to  receive  the  pro[)osals  of  Mr.  Xoyes  :  Capt.  John  Currier, 
Maj.  Benjamin  Bainard.  Jacob  Collins.  Esq..  AVilliam  (iraves 
and  Ensign  Isaiah  Dole.  The  following  are  the  pioposals  of 
Mr.  Xoyes  : 

•■Gi:Nri,i;Mi.N  oi  iiik  Town  oi  Soiiii  llvMriuN. — Vuii  mu^^t. 
be  sensible  i)flhe  mehuiclioly  state  of  religiou,  and  of  the  sad  di- 
visions among  us,  with  tlie  increasing  number  of  those  who  are 
unwilling  to  continue  tlieir  assistance  for  the  regular  support  of 
the  publK-  Avorsliip  of  (ioil.  wliieh  renders  the  life  of  your  minister 
uncomfortable  and  iiis  l;il)ors  foi-  the  l)enelit  of  tlie  jieople  unsuc- 
cessful. 

"That  vour  minister  is  willing  (qjon  the  following  conditions  to 
tlissolve  his  connection  with  you.  That  \'ou  give  him  a  recom- 
mendation as  an  upriiiht  niiiiistei-  of  the  (iospcl  of  Christ. 

"Thf  town  shall  pay  his  full  salary  till  the  first  of  March,  180]. 

•'He  shall  retain  the  use  of  the  house,  barn  and  parsonage 
until  the  last  of.Viiril.  bsnl. 

"For  his  woo<l  lioiise.  chaise  house,  tlui  stone  wall  and  inside 
fence  made  by  him  the  town  shall  p'ay  him  what  indifferent  men 
shall  judge  jiroper,  or  as  he  and  the  town  shall  agree. 

"That  your  minister  may  have  leisure  and  time  to  provide  a 
house  for  himself  and  family,  and  also  to  dispose  of  what  may 
not  be  eonvenient  toi'  him  to  move. 

"'I'lie  town  shall  relieve  him  b-oni  his  puiilie  lu'c^aching  the 
mouths  of  .lamiary  and  February. 

"(Jentlcmeii,  if  you  call  to  mind  your  minister's  constancy  in 
supplying  the  pulpit,  his  liberality  to  the  town  and  also  the  difii- 
culties  and  expense  of  renio\'ing.  every  noble  spirited  man  Avill 
confess  the  above  conditions  are  reasonable  and  mild. 

"When  the  town  shall  ae(|uiesce  to  all  the  aliove  and  their  luiu- 
ister  hath  receipted  for  the  present  year's  salary,  with  the  coni- 
jiensatioii  nientioiuMl.  the  connection  between  him  and  the  town 
will  l)e  considered  as  dissolved  and  not  before. 

"X.\'i'ir[.  xovK.s. 

••Soiilh  Ibmijiloii,  N'o\-.  .").   ISUl." 

On  the  same  day  a  council  convened  at  the  call  of  the 
church  and  the  town  ol'  Soulii  Ilami^ton,  that  Ihey  might 
take  cognizance  ol   idl  mattci-'^  rcsi)ecting  the  (own  and  (heir 


24 

ministcM's  duty  cither  to  continue  with  the  people  upon  what 
their  committee  may  propose  or  dissolve  their  relation  in  the 
manner  the  cuuucil  may  advise.  Pastors  and  delegates  from 
tlie  churches  in  Plaistow,  Kingston,  and  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Newburyport,  composed  the  council.  Rev.  G3'le8 
Merrill,  of  Plaistow.  was  moderator,  and  Rev.  David  Dana, 
of  Newburyport.  scribe.  The  council,  after  praj'er  and 
mature  deliberation,  agreed  to  the  following  : 

••'J'hat  it  is  our  upiuion  that  such  are  the  difficulties  and  divis- 
ions wliick  have  long  existed  and  still  exist  among  the  people  of 
South  Hampton,  and  so  small  the  prospect  which  their  minister 
has  at  present  either  of  comfort  or  usefulness,  that  unless  some  im- 
portant change  for  the  better  should  si>eetlily  take  place  his  pastoral 
relation  with  the  people  ought  to  be  dissolved.  Still  it  is  our  earn- 
est desire  that  the  melancholy  separatiim  may,  if  possible,  be  pre- 
vented, nor  are  we  willing  to  abandon  the  hope  that  through  the 
gracious  interposition  and  blessing  of  God  this  peo[)le  may  yet  be 
laiited  and  happy  under  their  present  pastor  and  reap  important 
benefit  from  his  ministerial  labors.  This  object  we  recommend 
to  their  serious  attention  and  entreat  them  to  endeavor  its  accom- 
plishment by  every  method  in  their  power.  Should  this  not  be 
speedily  eftected,  we  recommend  that  the  dissolution  of  the  con- 
nection take  place  in  as  peaceable  a  manner  as  maj-  be,  and  we 
give  as  our  oi)inion  that  the  conditions  of  separation  proposed  by 
]\lr.  Noyes  are  moderate  and  reasonable  and  we  recommend  them 
to  the  people  in  confidence  of  their  ready  and  cheerful  acquies- 
cence in  them.  Finally,  we  feel  ourselves  constrained  to  express, 
on  this  occasion,  the  high  sense  we  entertain  of  ^Ir.  Noyes"  exem- 
})lary  integrity  as  a  citizen,  and  of  his  long-tried  hdelity  and  zeal 
as  a  gospel  minister.  And  now  brethren  of  this  Church  and  Con- 
gregation, we  are  constrained  from  a  regard  to  our  own  feelings 
and  your  best  interests  to  entreat  you  solemnly  to  consider  the 
probable  consequences  both  to  yourselves  and  your  children  of 
your  being  left  destitttte  of  (iod's  ordinances  :  it  must  be  depress- 
ing to  you,  and  will  })robably  prove  fatal  to  them.  (Jospel  priv- 
ileges are  justh' considered  as  the  best,  the  greatest  privileges 
enjoj^ed  in  the  world.  Your  real  interest  depends  more,  infinitely 
more,  upon  the  enjoyment  of  these  than  upon  houses  and  lands, 
(.'hrist  has  heon  willing  to  do  much,  to  suffer  much,  that  yon  and 
your  children  might  enjoy  the  privileges  of  the  stated  worship 
and  ordinances  of  the  Gospel,  whereby  30U  and  they  may  become 
wise  unto  salvation.  And  will  not  you  be  willing  to  make  the 
necessary  sacrifice  of  your  temporal  interests  to  secure  and  con- 
tinue so  great  a  blessing  ?  Can  yoix  without  horror  realize  the 
idea  of  exposing  yourselves  and  your  families  to  the  temptations 
to  which  a  people  destitute  of  the  stated  means  of  grace  must  be 
exposed  ?  Should  a  separation  between  you  and  your  Pastor  take 


25 

place,  can  you  look  for  a  resettlement  of  the  (iospel  snoii,  if  ever  ? 
Can  you  expect  to  be  more  united  in  another?  or  tliat  greater 
exertions  and  sacrifices  will  not  Ije  necessary  for  the  settlement 
and  support  of  another,  than  are  necossarv  to  continne  tlie  cdii- 
nection  alread\'  lormed  ? 

"We  pray  you  think  of  these  thing's  and   may    (lod    give    you 
wisdom  and  irrace  to  direct  vou  to  that  which  l)e  for  His  "iorv 


GYLES  MERRILL.  ELLSTLV  THAYER.    DAVID  DANA. 
JACOB  HOOK.  WH.LAM  COOMBS.  SLMEOX   KELLEY. 

This  closes  the  I'ceord  of  the  Congregational  church  in 
South  Hampton. 

At  a  legal  town  meeting  held  December  8,  1800,  the  fol- 
lowing motion  was  adopted  :  ''That  by  reason  of  divi.sions 
and  difliculties  in  the  said  town,  we,  the  inhabitants  thereof, 
have  consented  to  accept  the  proposals  the  Rev.  Mr.  Noyes 
has  laid  before  the  town  to  dissolve  the  connection  between 
them  and  him.  Whereas,  we  esteem  Mr.  Noyes  for  his  affec- 
tionate regard  for  the  sick  among  us,  his  strict  exemplary 
morals  and  plain  and  faithful  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and 
therefore  recommend  him  as  an  honest  man  unto  all  with 
W'hom  he  may  be  concerned."  At  an  adjourned  town  meet- 
ing, held  one  week  later,  the  town  voted  to  comply  with  all 
the  conditions  of  Mr.  Noyes'  proposals,  and  the  rtdntion  be- 
tween pastor  and  people  was  officially  severed.  During  the 
ministiy  of  Mr.  Noyes  sixty-one  were  addc(l  to  tlie  cimrcli 
by  letter,  one  hundred  and  fourteen  on  prol'ession  ;  one 
hundred  and  eighty-nine  childrcfi  wcix'  baptized,  and  three 
hundred  and  ten  marriages  solemnized.  Hev.  Nathaniel 
Noyes  was  l)orii  in  Newbury,  Massachusetts.  August  1l\ 
1735,'  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  IT")'.*.  slutlic<l  tiieology 
with  President  Davis,  was  pastoral  South  Ilami)ton  nearly 
fort}' years,  and  die(l  at  Newbury[)oi't  in  bslO.  ;iged  Toyeais, 

For  several  years  a  ftei']\rr.  Noyes' jjastorate  at  South  Ibinip- 
ton  closed,  tlu'  Congregaliomdists  licM  meetings  in  the  (own  a 
portion  of  the  time:  IJev.  l'".li;is  Hull,  of  Senlnook.  Kes  .  Mi'. 
Hoitt,  of  Ij)swich.  ••ind  Rev.  I'x'uJ.MUiiu  Sawyer  fr(<|Uenlly 
preached.       March      I'O.      bs27.     Ruth     l-"l.'in<lers.     the     last 


26 

member  of  the  cluin-h  died,  and  Rev.  Mv.  Sawvei'  otticiated 
at  the  funeral.  Hv  vote  of  tlie  town,  in  182S,  tlie  com- 
munion service  was  placed  in  tlie  hands  of  Isaiah  Palmer. 
Esq.,  and  it  was  linally  |)iit  in  the  care  of  Hev.  Leander 
Thompson,  of  "West  Ainesbury  (now  ]^^errimac).  The 
records  of  the  ehnrch  are  in  the  ])()ssessiou  of  one  of  the 
heirs  of  the  late  Thomas  T.  ^Icrrill.  of  ^ferriniac.  As  I 
review  the  eighty-tbni'  years  of  iiistory.  1  am  led  to  the  eon- 
elusion  that  the  greatest  displays  of  di\ine  favor  to  this  town 
were  durino;  tlie  ministi'v  of  IJcv.  ^Vil!itlIn  Parsons. 


THE  BAPTIST  CHURCH 


In  IToo,  "Walter  Powers  wus  ordained  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Newton,  and  for  some  years  that  ehureh.  the  first 
of  our  denomination  north  of  IJoston.  prospered  \nider  liis 
ministry.  It  is  not  surprising  that  in  the  hitter  part  of  the 
pastorate  of  Mr.  Parsons,  in  South  Hampton,  and  tlie  early 
part  of  that  of  Mr.  Noyes,  disagreements  arose  in  regard  to 
the  government  and  ordinances  of  the  church.  J^ess  than 
two  miles  from  our  border  was  an  established  J5a[)tist  mept- 
ing,  and  the  discussions  that  nnist  have  arisen  could  not  fail 
to  reach  this  place. 

In  1760  the  Congregational  Church  received  the  following 
complaint : 

"South  IlAMrTox,  Oct.  10.  17G0. 
"Revered  and  Beloved. — Whereas,  1  think  that  our  sister. 
Abigail,  the  wife  of  Ephraim  Carter,  doth  not  walk  orderly 
among  us,  in  that  she  absents  herself  from  the  sacrament  of  tlie 
Lord's  supjjer  among  us  ;  and  whereas,  1  have  taken  the  steps  the 
gospel  retpiires  to  obtain  satisfaction,  but  am  not  satisliud  with 
her  behavior,  I  desire  the  church  to  take  the  matter  into  considi'i- 
ation,  and  until  then  I  shall  be  uUeasy. 

"DAMKL  FUKXCH." 

Deceml^er   10,    1700,  the  church   received  the   following 

letter  : 

'•SoiTII  llA.NriToN,   Dec.  .').    17t',il. 
"To  the  ClILltCll  OE  (lIltlST,   IX  S(H"TH  Ha.MI'TON. 

"■Revered,  Honored  and  Beloved. — AV'hereas.  you  hav(!  sent  to 
me  for  reasons  of  my  withdrawing  from  the  ordinance  of  the 
l^ord's  Su)j))er  in  tliis  ])lace,  1  do  therefore  now,  as  in  ( 'hristian 
duty  bound,  pi-esent  them  unto  you,  which  are  as  followeth  : 
]\ry  reason  for  withdrawing  from  the  word  and  ordinances  in  this 
place,  is  not  because  of  anger  or  prejudice  against  any  })artieular 
member  of  the  church,  tuit  because  I  lind  moir  advantage  anct 
nourishment  to  mv  soul  than  1    do   h<M't'.   and   finding  n)vs«'lf  en- 


28 

gaged  to  this  i)ai-t  of  (  lirist's  Clmroli,  I  ilcsircd  a  disniisiiuii  IVoiu 
the  church  that  I  might  leave  in  tlie  regular  way.  hut  the  church 
ilid  not  see  tlieir  way  clear  to  dismiss  lue  ;  but  1  was  hound  in 
conscience  to  go  without,  it  Iteing  a  barr  in  my  way  to  receive 
the  ordinance  here,  and  to  go  and  hear  the  word  preached  else- 
Avhere,  and  until  that  barr  is  removed  I  cannot  do  it.  For  my 
part  1  am  of  the  Congregational  profession,  and  desire  to  come 
up  to  it  in  doctrine  and  discipline,  and  now  if  the  church  can  see 
their  way  clear  and  come  ujj  to  wliat  they  profess  tiiemselves,  I 
will  Join  Avith  you  with  all  my  heart  and  soul. 

••AiiKiAli,  {Airi'KK." 

After  uuu-li  (Icliberatioii  the  cliiirch  voted.  March  ll'. 
1761  :  '"^Ve  will  drop  the  complaint  against  Abigail  Carter, 
and  commit  her  to  Ciod  and  leave  the  nuittei-  with  Ilim  and 
her  own  conscience." 

In  1765,  a  Baptist  church  was  organized  at  Haverhill, 
twelve  miles  away,  and  Dr.  Hezekinh  Smith  was  t-alled  to 
the  pastorate.  At  Brentwood.  Stratham.  Deertield,  Notting- 
ham, Salishnry  and  South  Hampton  was  the  good  seed  sown. 

As  early  as  1720,  one  Scannnon.  of  Stratham,  married 
Rachel  Thnrber,  of  Kehoboth,  Mass.  She  was  a  liaptist, 
and  lal)ored  earnestly  to  maintain  and  disseminate  her  doc- 
trines. She  purchased  a  large  number  of  cojdes  of  "Nar- 
eott's  Treatise  on  Baptism,""  and  distributed  them  among 
her  friends  and  neighbors.  By  reading  this  tract.  Dr. 
Samuel  Shepherd,  of  Nottingham,  was  led  to  investigate  the 
subject,  and  finally  decided  the'  argument  for  infj^nt  baptism 
was  groundless.  He  declared  his  willingiu'ss  to  become  a 
member  of  the  despised  sect,  eveiT where  spoken  against, 
and  others  having"  reached  the  same  decision,  Dr.  Smith  was 
sent  for  from  Haverliill.  and  at  Deerfiehl.  on  June  14.  1770, 
he  baptized  fourteen  persons.  During  the  next  seven  days 
twent^'-four  residents  of  Nottingham,  Brentwood.  Stratham 
and  vicinity,  weie  baptized.  Among  this  number  were  Dr. 
Shepherd,  a  Congregational  minister,  and  two  deacons.  Dr. 
Shepherd  was  born  at  East  Salisbury,  Mass.,  in  1739,  con- 
verted in  earh"  life,  and  united  with  the  Congregational 
Church  July  4,    175C.     He  began  to  preach  July,  1770,  and 


29 

was  ordained  at  Stratliam,  Sept.  25,  1771.  A  Baptist  church 
had  been  formed  at  Stratham  fourteen  months  earlier.  The 
influence  of  Mrs.  Scammon's  life  had  been  manifested,  and 
her  prayers  answered. 

May  2,  1771,  the  Brentwood  church  was  constituted,  with 
thirteen  members,  and  the  day  following  another  was  or- 
ganized at  Nottingham.  After  Dr.  Shepherd's  ordination 
he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  these  two  churches  with 
that  of  Stratham.  Abigail  Carter  and  Mar}'  Flanders,  of 
South  Hampton,  were  baptized  and  imited  with  the  Brent- 
wood church  May  31,  1772.  Ephraim  Carter  and  Jeremiah 
Flanders  imited  with  the  same  church  March  21,  1773. 
Ma}'  31,  1774,  the  following  vote  was  passed  at  Brentwood, 
and  entered  upon  the  records  of  the  church,  page  22. 
'•That  Elder  Shepherd  should  improve  at  Brentwood,  Strat- 
ham and  Epping,  as  heretofore,  for  the  year  1774,  excepting 
as  man}'  Sabbaths  as  he  shall  judge  duty  for  him  to  improve 
at  South  Hampton."  Thus  early  did  Ephraim  and  Abigail 
Carter,  Jeremiah  and  Mary  Flanders,  all  of  South  Hampton, 
look  to  this  region  for  the  extension  of  their  church  work. 
Among  those  who  heard  Dr.  Shepherd  preach  in  this  town, 
was  a  lad  having  a  retentive  memory  and  love  for  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  who  embraced  the  truth,  was  baptized  and  united 
with  the  Brentwood  church  in  1779,  at  the  age  of  sixteen. 
His  name  was  Thomas  Flanders.  Tradition  says  that  the 
lad  would  ride  to  Brentwood,  horseback,  on  the  Sabbath,  such 
was  his  eagerness  for  Dr.  Shepherd's  instructions.  The  first 
person  baptized  in  this  town  ]>}■  Dr.  Shepherd,  was  Anna 
Merrill,  wife  of  John  IVIerrill,  in  1779.  In  1780,  was  or- 
ganized the  Brancli  churcli,  known  at  first  as  the  Soutli 
Hampton  Churcli,  afterward  as  the  Salisbury  and  South 
Hampton  Church,  then  as  the  Salisbury  Church,  and  now,  an 
independent  body,  tiie  Salisl)urv  and  Aiiu'sbury  Baptist 
Church,  To  the  record  of  its  work  in  South  Hampton,  I 
call  your  attention.  September  27,  1780,  one  hundred  years 
ago,   Ephraim   Carter.   .Jeremiah   Flanders.    William  Bagley, 


30 

John  Morse,  Isaac  Morrill,  Thomas  Flanders,  David  Cnrrier, 
Moses  Chase,  Barnard  Cnrrier,  Abigail  Carter,  Mary  Flan- 
ders, Sarah  Ring,  Hannah  AVoodman,  Rhoda  Ring,  Snsannah 
_Fitts.  Eunice  (iove,  Abigail  Currier,  Olive  Clough,  Anna 
Clough,  Mar}'  Brown,  Mehitable  Flanders,  nine  men  and 
fifteen  women,  several  of  them  residents  of  South  Hampton, 
Avere  organized  as  a  branch  of  the  Brentwood  Church.  On 
September  11,  1780,  sixteen  days  before  the  organization  of 
the  Branch  Church,  the  following  votes  were  passed  at  Brent- 
wood. (Church  Record,  Page  35.)  "Agreed  that  Elder 
Shepherd  should  improve  at  South  Hampton,  one-quarter  of 
the  time."  "Agreed  that  Brother  Barnard  Currier  improve 
another  gift."  The  Brentwood  Church  and  its  branches  held 
two  regular  business  meetings  each  year,  one  in  the  Spring 
and  one  in  Autumn,  and  at  these  meetings  the  general  busi- 
ness of  the  parent  church  and  all  its  branches  was  transact- 
ed. The  larger  number  of  these  business  meetings  were 
held  at  Brentwood,  but  occasionall}*  the}'  were  held  at  Ep- 
ping,  Stratham,  South  Hampton,  Hawk  (now  Danville)  and 
Salisbury,  Mass.,  after  the  year  1790. 

I  give  the  following  extracts  fi-oni  the  records  of  the 
Branch  Church  : 

"South  Hampton,  Sept,  27,  1780. 
"Chose  Brother  Barnard  Currier  deacon;  chose  Brother  jNIoses 
Chase  as  an   elder  in  this  branch  of  the  church,  then  parted  in 
peace." 

"South  IIamptox,  Sejit.  21,  1781. 
"A  number  of  the  brethren  met  at  Bro.  Flanders',  and  agreed 
to  have  Elder  Tlovey  improve  his  gift  among  us,  as  occasion 
otFers.'" 

Brother  Jeremiah  Flanders'  residence  was  that  now  occu- 
pied b}'  Mr.  P.  P.  AVliitehonse. 

November  7,  1781,  the  church  met  at  Brother  Barnard 
Currier's  and  agreed  to  contribute  a  httle  money  as  a  stock 
for  needy  brethren  and  sisters,  and  Deacon  Barnard  Currier 
was    intrusted   with   the    same.      Barnard    Currier,    son    of 


31 

Richard  and  Sarah  Currier,  was  bom  in  South  Hampton, 
January-  23,  1752.  Ho  lived  in  tlie  liouse  now  occupied  by 
iVfr.  Andrew  J.  Ciu'rier. 

"JiREXTAVOOD,  Oct.  'J'*,  1781. 

"Tiie  bretlu'en  of  the  Baptist  C'hurch  belonging  at  Epping. 
Stratham,  South  Hampton  and  Brentwood,  agreed  that  the  ordi- 
nance of  the  Lord's  Snpper  be  administered  eight  months  of  the 
year  at  the  four  several  branches;  the  first  in  April,  at  Brent- 
wood;  the  second  in  ^lay,  at  Epping;  the  third  in  June,  at 
Stratham ;  the  fourth  in  Jidy,  at  South  Hampton,  and  so  on  rounil 
for  eight  months." — lirenticood  Church  Becords,  Page  07. 

March  1.'),  1782,  the  church  met  at  lirothcr  Flanders' 
house,  and  voted  that  any  brother  or  sister  that  is  needy,  is 
desired,  with  freedom,  to  ask  the  church  to  relieve  them. 

"SoLTir  Hami'TON,  July  20,  1782. 
"The  I'eason  of  their  hopes  given,  and  baptized  and  taken  into 
the  church,  namely  :  David  Graves,  Kuth  Graves,  Thomas  Cur- 
rier, Josiah  Tukesbur}',  Samuel  Kimball,  Micajah  rillsbury.  Jon- 
athan Clough's  wife,  Jacob  Eastman,  "William  Quimby,  Annah 
Emerson,  ]~)ate  Bagley  ;  Brother  AVilliam  Xoyes  joined  to  our 
church."' 

"South  IIami'Tox,  August  20,  1782. 
"Dr.   Shepherd   and   Brother   Barnai'd   Currier   were   sent   to 
Meredith,  to  help  ordain  Brother  Folsom."'' 

The  following  entry  is  of  interest : 

"Dec.  16,  1782. — Met  at  Brother  Jeremiah  Flanders'  to  con- 
tribute to  Dr.  Shepherd's  support  tlie  income  and  money  to  the 
value  often  bushels  of  corn,  and  to  remember  the  otlier  poor  and 
needy  brethren  and  sisters." 

March  21,  1783,  the  cluirch  met  at  Brother  David  Currier's 
and  gave  permission  to  Deacon  Barnard  Courier  "to  speak  in 
a  general  way."  David  Currier's  residence  was  tlic  house 
until  recently  occupied  by  the  family  of  the  late  John  C. 
Forsaith. 

The  following  record  of  a  general  chuicli  meeting  of  the 
Brentwood  Church  explains  itself: 

"TF/ierea.s,  at  a  general  church  meeting  held  Ijy  agreement  of 
the  Baptist  ChurcTi  of  Christ  belonging  to  F.rentwood,  Stratham 
and  South  Hampton,  April  ;!(),  178;;,  at  IJrotlicr  David  (iraves'. 

''First.     Chose  Elder  Eastman  moderator. 

"'Second.  Elder  Sheperd  made  a  complaint  to  said  churcli  that 
there  was  a  neglect  in  perfonning  their  brotherly  care  of  support- 


32 

ing  his  necessities  ;  therefoi'e  it  was  agreed  and  voted  that  Elder 
Shepherd's  necessities  should  be  supplied,  and  in  order  for  the 
same,  the  church  chose  Elder  Chase  and  Bro.  David  Graves  to 
receive  the  communications  of  the  brethren  and  friends  in  that 
part.  Deacon  Clark  in  Stratham,  and  Brother  Cheney  and  Elder 
Eastman  in  Brentwood,  and  to  stand  till  others  were  chosen. 

Third.  Agreed  that  Bro.  Barnard  Currier  should  improve  his 
gift  with  the  several  branches  of  the  church,  as  he  shall  think  fit, 
either  in  doctrine  or  exhortation,  in  order  for  further  satisfaction." 


Brother  David  Graves  lived  on  the  old  East  Kingston 
road,  opposite  the  house  occupied  by  Mr.  Samuel  Eastman. 

November  6,  1783,  at  the  meeting  at  Jeremiah  Flanders',  a 
committee  was  chosen  to  draw  up  articles  of  our  Christian 
faith,  and  Elder  Chase,  Deacon  Barnard  Currier,  and  Brother 
AVilliam  Bagle^'  were  the  committee. 

Church  difficulties  were  many,  and  public  and  private  ad- 
monitions were  given  by  officers  of  the  church. 


"Brentwood,  May  3,  178-t. 

"Agreed  that  Elder  Shephei'd  improve  at  Japping,  South 
Hampton  and  Hamjsstead  one-third  of  the  time. 

"Agreed  that  Bro.  Barnard  Currier  and  Elder  Chase  improve 
at  Brentwood,  Stratham  and  Epping,  as  occasion  shall  call,  till 
next  October." — Church  Records,  Page  38. 


Dec.  29,  1784,  the  following  action  was  taken:  "At  a 
meeting  of  the  Anti-Pedobaptist  Church  in  South  Hampton, 
chose  Elder  Samuel  Shepherd,  Jeremiah  Flanders  and  Dea. 
Barnard  Currier,  a  committee  to  exhibit  the  list,  or  lists,  of 
the  names  of  those  who  require  certificates  that  the}'  do 
belong  to  our  church.  The  following  is  the  form  of  cer- 
tificate : 


"We,  the  subscribers,  Ijeing  chosen  a  committee  by  the  society 
of  people  called  Anti-Pedobaptists,  who  meet  together  for 
religious  worship  on  the  Lord's  day  in  South  Hampton,  to  exhibit 
a  list  or  lists  of  the  names  of  such  persons  as  belong  to  said 
society  and  congregation,  do  certify  that  A.  B.,  C.  D.  and  E.  F., 
of  Salisbury,  and  inhabitants  of  the  same  parish  in  said  town,  do 
belong  to  said  society  and  congregation,  and  that  they  do  fre- 
quently and  usually  attend  with  us  in  our  meetings  for  religious 


33 

worship  on  the  Lord's  day,  and,  we  do  verily  believe,  are  with 
respect  to  the  ordinance  of  baptism,  of  the  same  religious  belief 
with  us. 

ELDER  SAMUEL  SHEPHERD. 
DEA.  BARNARD  CURRIER. 
JEREMIAH  FLANDERS. 

[signed.] 

A.  B. 
C.  D. 
E.  F. 
Dated  at  South  Hampton,  this day  of 178     . 

"Brentwood,  May  16,  178o. 
"Agreed  that  Elder  Shepherd  improve  at  South  Hampton   and 
Hampstead,  equally  alike  one-third  part  of  the  time,  till  Novem- 
ber next." — Church  Record,  Page  31). 

"Bkentwood,  Nov.  21,  1785. 

"Agreed  that  Bro.  Baniard  Currier  should  be  collector  for  the 
j-ear  ensuing  in  the  South  Hampton  Branch,  to  gather  the  com- 
munications of  the  friends  and  the  equality  of  the  brethren  to  the 
amount  of  twenty  pounds  in  that  branch. 

"Agreed  for  the  ensuing  year  that  Elder  Shepherd  improve  at 
South  Hampton  one-third  2''H"t  of  the  time.''" — Church  Record, 
Page  40. 

In  1786,  Elder  Sliei)lierd  was  employed  )>y  South  IIami)ton 
a  third  of  the  time,  and  was  to  be  paid  £20. 

April  5,  1787,  at  a  meeting  held  at  Jeremiah  Flanders',  it 
was  "voted  to  have  the  meeting  two-thirds  of  the  time  at 
Jonathan  Clough's  and  one-third  of  the  time  at  Thomas 
Currier's,  and  it  is  to  he  understood  that  there  is  to  be  a 
meeting  at  Bro.  David  Graves'  for  the  convenience  of  the  peo- 
ple in  that  part  w^hen  it  is  at  Jonathan  Clough's."  Jonathan 
Clough's  house,  where  the  meetings  were  held  two-thirds  of 
the  time,  was  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Salisbury  Mills, 
on  the  road  to  Seabrook.  Thomas  Currier's  house  was  at 
Currier  Corner,  near  the  residence  of  the  late  (iihnan  !>. 
Currier,  in  South  Hampton. 

At  this  date,  and  forward  for  some  time,  tiie  Branch 
Church  held  services  all  the  time  at  South  Hampton,  and 
two-thirds  of  the  time  at  Salisbur}'. 


34 

"Maj"  ye  7,  17«7,  the  brethren  fnnii  ye  .several  branches  of  ye 
church  met  at  Bro.  Ephi-aim  Carter's,  at  South  Hampton,  and 
agreed  to  administer  the  ordinance  of  the  supper  twelve  times  in 
the  year,  live  times  at  Brentwood,  three  times  at  South  Hampton, 
three  times  at  Stratham,  once  at  Hawk." — Brentwood  Chvrch 
Record,   Pai/r  42. 

"Bhentw«>oi),  May  3,  1788. 
"Agreed  to  administer  the  Lord's  Supper  at  South  Hampton 
the  last  Lord's  day  in  June." — Church  Record,   Fage  4:i. 

"Oct.  27,  1788.  The  ciuircli  met  at  South  Hampton,  at  Bn.). 
Ephraim  Carter's,  and  agreed  that  Bro.  Tukesbury  may  impi'ove 
his  gift  as  duty  may  call." — Brenncood  Church  Rrrord,  Page  44. 

"Nov.  '28,  1788.  The  Baptist  Church  of  Brentwood  met  at  Bro. 
David  Graves'  (Soutli  Hampton)  by  api)ointment,  and  proceeded 
with  cases  of  church  discipline." — Brcnfu-ooil  Church  Bccnrd, 
Page  44. 

"Hawk,  .May  4,  1789. 
"Agreed  to  admininisler  the  ordinance  of  the  Supper,  ye  last 
Lord's   dav    in     June     at    South     Hamilton." — Church    Record, 
Page  3<!.  ' 

In  1790  is  the  first  record  of  tlie  Brentwood  church  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  being  administered  in  Salisbury. 

"]May  28,  179;').  Agreed  that  Elder  Chase  and  Deacon  Currier 
attend  the  association  from  South  Hampton  and  Salisbury." — 
Church  Record,  Page  ."i'J. 

The  I'ecords  of  the  Branch  Churcli  in  1787  are  all  dated 
at  Soutli  Hampton.  In  1788  half  the  meetings  were  held  at 
Salisbury,  and  half  in  this  town.  For  the  three  following 
3-ears  all  the  church  meetings  were  in  Salisbury.  In  1793, 
the  church  was  known  as  the  South  Hampton  church,  as  the 
following  letter  shows  : 

"To  Messers.  Jeke.miaii  Persox,  Jacok  Board5[an  and 
Enoch  Titcomb,  members  of  the  session  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  of  Christ  in  XEAvr.uitvroRT  :  These  are  to  inform 
you  that  Mr.  Moses  Pierce  of  jour  church  has  made  known  to 
the  Ba])tist  Cliurcli  of  Christ  at  South  Hampton,  that  he  is  con- 
scious from  the  Holy  Scriptures,  that  he  ought  to  be  baptized 
upon  profession  of  his  own  laith.  He  has  given  a  scriptural  ac- 
count of  the  hope  that  is  in  him  as  a  true  believer  in  Jesus  Christ. 
He  has,  by  writings  and  words,  that  he  is  ready  to  make  appear, 
cleared  up  several  reports  that  have  been  spread  to  the  disadvau- 


35 

tage  of  his  character;  nevertheless  we  judged  it  proper  to  inform 
you  of  the  matter  Ijefore  we  receive  hiui,  that  if  30U  have  any 
charge  tliat  is  provable  against  him,  of  any  act  or  acts  that  are 
immoral,  and  contrar}'  to  the  express  laws  of  New  Testament,  we 
pray  j'ou  to  inform  us  by  the  bearer  hereof,  as  you  regard  the 
common  cause  of  Religion  in  all  denominations,  and  if  not  we 
shall  judge  our  way  clear  to  I'eceive  him  into  our  fellowship. 

"DAVID  CURKrp:K,  Clerk. 

"Fn  behalf  of  the  Church. 
"South  Hampton,  Sept.  2(i,  17!)r)." 

At  a  church  meeting  at  Brother  Jeremiah  Handcrs.  May 
16,  1794,  it  was  "voted,  that  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  be  administered  monthly,  on  the  last  Lord's  day, 
altei'nating  between  Salisbury  and  Soutli  IIam[)ton,  until 
further  notice,  and  the  church  conference  be  held  Friday 
afternoon  previous  to  the  communion,  one-half  of  the  time  at 
South  Hampton,  and  one-half  at  Salisbury."  At  the  same 
meeting,  Jabez  True  and  Thomas  ^'landers  were  chosen 
deacons. 

For  how  long  a  time  tlu'  meetings  of  the  church  were  held 
alternately  between  Salisbury  and  South  Hampton.  1  have 
not  been  able  to  ascertain.  The  last  record  in  the  Branch 
Church  Book  l)egins  as  follows  : 

"Salisbuky,  jNIarch  11,  1812. 
"At  a   church  and  society  nie(!ting  of  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Salisbury,    Amesbury   and    South    Hampton,    voted,   that  Jabez 
True  improve  his  gift  one-half  of  tlie  time,   and  Bro.  Thomas 
Cheswell  one-fourtli  of  tlie  time  in  1S12." 

From  the  records  of  this  Branch  Church,  also  from  the 
records  of  the  Brentwood  Church  and  the  town  records  of 
South  Hampton,  the  following  facts  are  incontrovertible. 
Pvlder  Shepherd  commenced  his  work  in  this  town  in  1771; 
that  here  in  1780  was  organized  the  Branch  Church;  that 
till  17H7  the  meetings  of  the  Branch  Churcli  were  all,  or 
nearly  all  held  in  this  town  ;  from  1787  to  1793,  the  Sunday 
services  were  held  all  the  time  at  South  Hampton,  and  two- 
thirds  of  the  time  at  Salisbury  ;  that  no  reference  is  made  on 
the  Brentwood    Church   IJocords   till    1790,    of  meetings    in 


36 

Salisbury.  In  1793.  and  furward  i)roliabh"  till  1801,  the  Sun- 
day scrvit-es  were  held  one-half  the  time  at  South  Hampton, 
and  one-half  at  Salisbury;  after  1801  at  Salisbury  all  the 
time,  at  what  was  known  as  the  "Shoe  String  Meeting- 
Ilouse,"  and  the  Baptists  of  this  town  had  the  use  of  the  old 
meeting-house  from  1801  to  1833,  when  the  Baptist  meeting- 
house w'as  built,  an  average  of  one-third  part  of  the  time, 
Elder  True  supplying  the  Baptists  here  most  of  the  time. 
Thus  there  have  been  more  or  less,  each  year.  Baptist  meet- 
ings held  in  this  town,  on  the  Sabbath,  from  1774  to  the 
present  date. 

The  Baptists  of  this  town  as  eurlv  as  171)1.  demanded  that 
the}"  should  not  l)e  taxed  for  the  support  of  a  ministr}-  not  in 
accordance  with  their  views,  and  the  number  of  freeholders 
was  by  no  means  small  who  claimed  to  be  Baptists. 

A  town  meeting  was  called  Juh'  1,  1791,  "To  act  what 
the  town*  shall  think  proper  relating  to  the  Minister's  tax  of 
those  persons  who  profess  to  be  Baptists,  agreeable  to  a  re- 
quest of  a  numljer  of  those  persons."  It  was  voted  not  to 
abate  the  taxes  of  Ephraim  Carter,  Jeremiah  Flanders,  Ben- 
jamin Clough,  Moses  Flanders,  Barnard  Flanders,  Jacob 
Barnard,  Samuel  Kimball,  Henry  French,  Humphrey  Pierce, 
Susannah  Fitts,  David  Graves,  John  H.  Pillsbury,  Benjamin 
Farmer,  Page  Ring,  Ezekiel  Clough,  Joseph  Jones  and 
Ephraim  Fitts.  About  this  time  a  pair  of  ox-cart  wheels 
belonging  to  Jacob  Barnard,  were  sold  at  vendue,  under  the 
willow  near  the  old  meeting-house,  to  pay  his  minister  tax. 

In  the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  in  1801,  one  article 
read  as  follows:  "To  see  if  the  town  shall  vote  that  the 
people  called  Baptists,  and  all  other  denominations,  shall 
have  their  proportion  of  the  money  that  is  raised  for  the 
support  of  preaching  the  gospel,  according  to  what  they  pay, 
and  likewise  their  proportion  of  the  income  of  the  Parsonage 
and  their  proportion  of  all  other  privileges  of  the  town. 

March  16,  1801,  the  following  vote  was  passed  :  "That  all 
denominations  in  town  shall  have  their  equal  proportion  of 


37 

the  income  of  the  Parsonage,  and  interest  monej-  the  North 
Parsonage  was  sold  for,  for  one  year,  to  be  laid  out  for  the 
support  of  tlie  Gospel  in  the  meeting-house  in  said  town,  b}- 
a  committee  cliosen  for  the  purpose  provided  tliey  will  agree 
to  raise  one  Inmdred  dollars  to  be  expended   with  it  to  be 
laid  out  in  the  same   way  and  manner  as  the  income  of  the 
parsonage  and  interest,  and  each  individual  in  town  be  taxed 
their  equal  proportion  of  said  sum,  that  are  liable  by  law  to 
pay  State  and   County  taxes,  granting  to  each  individual  or 
member,  liberty  if  he  or  they  are  not  suited  with  such  preach- 
ing as  the  committee  provides,  if  lie  or  the^^  pay  to  the  value 
of  one  day's  preaching,  to  bring  forward  such  a  minister  as 
he  or  they  like,  to  preach  out  his  or  their  proportion  of  said 
money."     The  committee  chosen  were  Dea.  Thomas  Currier, 
Sanuiel  Barnard.  Thomas  Flanders,  Parker  Merrill  and  John 
H.  Pillsbury.     From   1801   onward.    Baptists  received  their 
share  of  the  Parsonage  income  ;  in  1810  they  had  two-fifths  ; 
in  181o  and  1820  about  one-fourth,  and  from   1832  to  1842, 
when  the  Parsonage  money  was  distributed,  about  one-third. 
Our  last  reference  to   the  Branch  Church   was  in    1812. 
Thi-ee  years  later  the   Chui'ch  at  Brentwood  was  called  to 
mourn  tlie  loss  of  Dr.   Sheplieid.     IIi-  died   in   November,  1 
]8ir),  aged  1)7  years.      1  think  it  inay  be    truly    said  that   he 
did  more  than    any  other   man    to  build   up   the   Baptists  in 
New  Hampshire. 

At  the  first  nieetiiig  of  the  Branch  Church  in  .South  Hamp- 
ton, Sept.  27,  17.S(),  Elder  Moses  Chase  was  licensed  to 
preach,  and  the  services  of  urdinalioii  were  held  at  Hawk, 
I)eceml)er  2.  17.s;).  Elder  Moses  Chase  was  born  August 
20,  17;)(),  and  ilicd  ;it  AmesbiuT  Fei'ry,  February  ;"),  1797. 
aged  CI  years,  lie  was  greatly  beloved  hy  the  clinrcii  and  his 
loss  was  nuich  lamented  by  the  citizens  of  the  place.  Deacon 
liarnard  Cnrriei-  was  a  niau  of  conunanding  ])reseuce.  not 
liberally  ediK-itcd.  l)ut  of  more  than  onlinary  ability.  lb- 
was  fervent  in  exhortation,  hut  not  a  seriiKjuizei-.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  energy  of  chai'acler,  but  had  peculiarities  which 
4 


38 

rendered   his  intliieuce  less  than  that  of  Deaeon  Fkmders. 

The  children  of  this  town  who  attended  the  Branch  Chnrch 
at  Salisbnry,  from  1805  to  1815,  Avere  accnstonied  to  receive 
petty  annoyances  from  the  children  of  the  village,  as  they 
went  to  the  Shoestring  Meeting-honse.  near  Mr.  Timothy 
Osgood's,  on  Congress  street. 

In  1813,  at  a  meeting  at  ^Ir.  Natlianiel  Flanders',  a  gen- 
tleman from  Kensington  was  present.  Some  young  men 
attached  a  rope  to  his  saddle  and  secured  it  in  such  a  way 
that  when  the  gentleman  mounted  his  horse  to  depart  and  the 
animal  started,  saddle  and  rider  were  l>rought  to  the  ground. 
Tlie  good  man  arose,  adjusted  his  saddle,  and  said  to  those 
standing  hy  who  liad  insulted  him,  "do  thyself  no  harm." 
Such  was  tlie  spirit  of  intolerance  manifested  in  tliis  town  at 
tliat  time. 

•lames  Woodman  was  a  young  man  of  great  promise  in 
religious  circles.  On  one  occasion  he  Avas  engaged  in  prayer 
for  more  than  an  hour,  and  one  who  listened  to  that  prayer 
said  to  me,  ''T  have  never  heard  so  impressive  a  prayer 
since." 

September  14,  1821,  tlie  First  Ba})tist  C'hurcli  of  Salisl)ury 
was  regularly  constituted  an  independent  liody.  Fourteen 
men  and  twenty-three  women  formed  this  church,  and  quite 
a  number  of  the  tliirty-seven  members  were  residents  of 
South  Hampton. 

In  1830.  the  brethren  at  Soutli  Hampton  connected  with 
the  Amesbury  and  Salistiury  Churcli,  felt  that  the  establish- 
ment of  a  church  here  Avould  better  serve  the  interests  of 
Zion  ;  hence  Deacon  Thomas  Flanders.  Avith  six  brethren 
and  sisters,  presented  a  request  for  letters  of  dismissal  from 
the  Amesbvny  and  Salisbury  Church,  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  a  new  church  in  this  toAvn.  Deacon  P'landers  Avas 
then  sixty-seven  years  of  age,  but  his  eyes  Avere  not  dimmed, 
nor  his  steps  faltering,  nor  his  zeal  for  the  Master's  cause 
abated  :  to  the  success  of  Baptist  principles  he  gave  the 
ardor  of  his  vouth  and  the  Avisdom  of  his  age. 


39 

It  was  ))iit  a  littk'  baiul  oi'  workers  who  planted  tlie  church, 
and  as  I  look  hack  over  the  record  of  the  fifty  years,  I  can 
but  exclaim.  "The  Lord  is  a  tower  and  strengtli  to  tliem  who 
put  tlieir  trust  in  Him." 

September  2'J,  1830,  the  Baptist  Church  was  organized. 
It  was.  constituted  with  ten  members,  two  brothers  and  eight 
sisters.  Only  one  of  the  number  now  survives,  sister  L3'dia 
Jewell.*  Sister  Jewell  was  a  daughter  of  Brother  Samuel 
Flanders.  Both  were  members  of  the  Amesbur^'  and  Salis- 
bur}-  Church,  and  took  letters  of  dismissal. 

An  Ecclesiastical  Council  convened  at  Soutli  Hampton, 
September  29,  18o0,  by  the  request  of  several  Baptist 
brethren  in  the  vicinity  desirous  of  receiving  fellowship  as  a 
church  of  Clu'ist  in  gospel  order.  The  council  was  organized 
1)}'  choosing  Rev.  Sann;el  Cook,  moderator.  The  meeting 
opened  with  [irayer  by  Rev.  Jabez  True.  The  council  then 
proceeded  to  incjuirc  into  tlie  principles  of  faith  and  order 
adopted  by  the  brethren  in  South  Hampton,  and  into  the  cir- 
cumstances which  led  tiienj  to  think  it  their  duty  to  be 
embodied  as  a  church  of  Clu'ist  in  this  town.  Whereupon, 
after  due  deliberation,  it  was  voted,  unanimously,  to  give  fel- 
lowship to  the  following  brethren  and  sisters  in  South  Hamp- 
ton, as  a  distinct  and  independent  church  of  Christ  in  gospel 
order:  Thomas  Flandeis,  Samuel  Flanders,  Priscilla  Flan- 
ders, Elizabetli  Flanders,  Elizabeth  Dow,  L3'dia  Jewell, 
Sarah  Barnard,  Sarah  Uainard  2d,  llannaii  Sawyer  and 
Betsey  Flanders.     Then  followed: 


"1,  llynni;  2,  rraver,  by  Kuv.  .1.  True;  ."J,  Hynm  ;  4,  Sermon, 
by  llev.  Samuel  Cook,  text,  Romans  4:20-21;  5,  The  right  hand 
of  fellowship  was  then  given  to  Brother  Thomas  Flanders  in  be- 
half of  the  chureli,  by  Rev.  J.  Newton  Rrown  on  behalf  of  the 
council,  accompanied  b}'  ai)[)ropriatc  remarks,  during  which  the 
brethren  and  sisters  stood  up  and  wore  recognized  as  a  church  of 


*Siiicc  dcci-ast'd. 


40 

our  Lord  Jesus  Christ:  fi,  Closing  prayer,  by  Rev.  Benjamin 
Harris ;  7,  Voted,  that  the  Ecclesiastical  Council  be  now  dis- 
solved. 

"South  Hampton,  Se})tember  29,  18.jO. 

••S A:\IUEL  cook,  .Moderator. 

"JOHN  X.  BROWN,  Clerk." 

"Where  two  or  three  are  i^-athercd  toj^ether  in  my  name  there 
am  I  in  the  midstf  of  them.''     "Amen  and  Amen." 

One  of  the  lirst  items  of  business  of  the  new  cliurch  was 
the  choice  of  Brotlier  Thomas  Flaudcrs  as  deacon.. 

Of  the  live  new  members  admitted  to  tlie  church  in  1830, 
two  were  afterwards  excluded,  and  one  oidy  survives,  Louisa 
Flanders,  now  Mrs.  Grecnleaf  Kelley.  In  1881,  Charles 
Jewell  and  wife  and  the  Rev.  Jabez  True  and  wife  were  ad- 
)nitte(L  During'  this  year  a  i)rotr;icted  meeting  was  held, 
which  quickened  the  church,  and  indications  of  divine  ap- 
proval were  not  wanting.  'Jliere  was  detei'mined  opposition 
to  the  organization  of  the  church  on  the  part  of  a  portion  of 
the  community,  and  a  spirit  of  bitter  intolerance  was  shown 
towards  what  we  regard  as  legitimate  Christian  work.  1 
give,  as  an  illustration,  this  extract,  copied  verbatim  from  a 
letter  published  in  a  Boston  weekly  noAvspaper : 

'•Surrii  ]L\MVToN,  N.  IL 

"We  have  received  the  following  letter  from  South  namj)- 
ton,  N.  LL  As  man^'  falsehoods  will  unquestionably  be 
told  about  this  four  days  meeting,  as  about  others,  we  give 
the  following  true  account.  It  comes  to  iis  certified  by  two 
of  the  most  respectable  citizens  of  that  town. 

"Sori'ii  IIamftox,  Xov.  It,  1S:\1. 

"Mn.  Eorjoi; :  There  has  been  for  the  week  past  one  of  those 
ridiculous  farces  played  upon  the  people  of  this  town,  which  the 
orthodox  style  as  protracted  or  four  days  meeting.  It  commenc- 
ed last  Tuesday  morning  and  ended  Saturday  afternoon.  There 
were  ten  or  twelve  different  priests  attended  the  meeting.  I  am 
happy  to  learn,  however,  that  they  met  with  little  or  no  success 
in  making  proselytes  to  their  sect.  After  preaching  some  fifteen 
or  twenty  discourses  or  harrangues  in  which  they  were  liberal  in 
damning  souls  to  hell ;  after  reading  a  host  of  notes  desiring 
prayers  for  ungodly  fatiiers  or  mothers,   unconverted  sisters  or 


41 

profligate  brothers;  afte'r  prayers  and  exliortations  almost  with- 
out number  ;  after  many  hypocritical  sighs,  sobs  and  tears  ;  after 
denouncing  all  who  believe  in  God's  goodness  to  all  His  crea- 
tures as  Infidels  and  Atheists ;  after  calling  them  immoral,  irre- 
ligious, and  ill-bred  who  would  not  stay  to  their  inquiry  meetings 
and  hear  the  character  of  a  demon  ascribed  to  the  giver  of  everv 
good  and  perfect  gift;  in  short,  after  laboring  day  and  night 
from  Tuesday  to  Saturday,  what  was  the  result  P  Not  one  single 
person  comes  forward  to  tell  the  wonderful  things  tiuit  have  been 
done  for  his  poor  soul.  On  the  fourth  day  of  this  farcial  four 
days  meeting,  the  wily  priests  who  conducted  it  did,  by  using  all 
the  art  and  .management  they  Avere  masters  of,  prevail  upon  six 
young  and  timid  females,  and  two  males  to  come  forward  and  be 
prayed  for,  but  no  one,  to  my  knowledge,  has  come  out  a  perfect 
convert  to  the  sect.  No,  Mr.  Editor,  people  in  this  place  are  too 
enlightened  to  be  duped  by  crafty  and  designing  priests  who  ai-e 
now  going  through  the  country  to  make  proselytes,  and  when 
they  have  such  they  are  two-fold  more  the  children  of  hell  than 
themselves.  1  would  to  (Jod  they  might  not  meet  with  any  better 
.success  in  any  place  than  they  have  had  here,  and  if  they  shouhl 
not  I  am  much  mistaken  if  they  do  not  soon  stop  their  unhallowed 
course. 

••THEO  riliLANTl!l!()l'IS'i\'- 

Tlic  cinircli  in  their  letter  to  the  Association  speaks  of  this 
meeting  as  having  heen  very  useful.  Of  the  twelve  who 
were  added  to  the  ehureli  in  1-S;>1,  ten  were  tipoii  profession 
of  faitli.  Not  one  of  the  number  was  ever  excluded  or  tiie 
subject  of  church  discipline.  Two  of  the  number.  Mi's.  1{. 
C.  Palmer  and  Mrs.  Eliza  V.  Cm-rier,  are  yet  spared  {o 
active  service  in  the  Mastei-'s  kiiigdoni. 

The  old  m(H'ting-house  was  oceu|)ie(l  when  it  could  be  ob- 
tained, but  other  denominations  had  the  right  to  occupy  it  a 
l>ortion  of  the  time,  and  when  it  was  not  to  b(>  secured,  the 
eonunodious  dwelling-house  of  ^Foses  Tuxbur\'  was  IVeeh' 
ottered,  and  was  occupied  by  this  church.  It  was  the  former 
H'sidence  of  Hon.  iienjamin  l>ariuird.  and  the  present  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  .T.  AViggin.  INIrs.  Wiggin  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Moses  Tuxbury. 

Jn  the  summer  of  l.s;!:>,  the  frame  of  the  building  for  the 
new  church  was  i'aise(|,  and  the  coi'ucr  stone  laid.  ()ctol)er. 
18o2,  tlie  Church  was  formally  admitted  to  the  Association 
by  letter  and  delegate.     The  church  was  in  a  singularly  Imp- 


42 

P3'  state,  the  meetings  well  attended,  and  much  serious  feel- 
ing manifested.  In  September.  1S32.  another  four  days 
meeting  was  held,  productive  of  much  good.  Plight  mem- 
bers were  admitted  in  lHo2.  six  1iy  letter,  and  two  on  pro- 
fession of  faith.  Of  this  nuniliei'.  oidy  ]\rrs.  A.  .T.  AViggin 
survives. 

Jan.  IG,  l<s;>;^),  the  present  house  of  worship  was  (U'dieated. 
The  sermon  upon  that  oeeasion  was  by  Rev.  Elijah  Foster,  of 
Salisbury.  Tlie  enter})rise  of  building  the  meeting-house  was 
accomplished  by  six  bretliren :  ]\Ioses  Tuxbuiy.  Thomas 
Flanders,  Samuel  Flanders,  Joseph  .Stockman.  ]>enjamin 
Currier,  and  Charles  Jewell.  The  satisfaction  and  joy  of 
the  little  church  cannot  be  described  as  they  gathered  here 
in  their  own  house  of  worship.  They  could  most  appropri- 
ateh'  apply  the  words  of  the  Psalmist,  'T  was  glad  when 
the}'  said  unto  }ne,  let  us  go  into  the  House  of  the  Lord.'' 
Within  these  consecrated  walls  for  more  than  fort3'-seveii 
years  has  this  churcli  held  its  solemn  feasts :  here  new 
members  have  been  gladly  welcomed,  and  here  we  have 
gathered  to  weep  beside  those  whose  work  on  earth  is  done. 
Here  we  have  welcomed  Association  and  Sunday  School 
Convention,  and  to  this  church  the  observance  of  the  anni- 
versaries of  these  two  Christian  gatherings  has  given  a  pleas- 
ure akin  to  that  of  the  pious  Jew,  when  he  went  up  to  Jeru- 
salem to  observe  the  instituted  solemnities  of  his  religion 
previous  to  the  coming  of  Christ.  Deacon  True  had  labored 
faithfully  with  this  people,  but  now,  1833,  another  servant  of 
the  Lord  w-as  to  be  called  to  the  care  of  the  Yiuej'ard. 

At  a  church  meeting  held  Jan.  7,  1833,  Brother  Samuel  C. 
Gilbert  related  his  Christian  experience  and  call  to  the  Cios- 
pel  Ministr}-,  and  the  church  voted  to  license  him  to  the 
holy  woi'k  wherever  God  in  His  providence  should  call  him 
to  labor.  At  the  same  meeting  Brother  Samuel  Flanders 
was  unanimously  chosen  deacon,  which  office  he  declined  to 
accept,  and  lirother  Charles  Jewell,  was  selected.  On 
Wednesdav.   Jan.    IH,  an  Kcclesiastical   Council    convened. 


43 

fousistiiig  of  pastors  and  delegates  from  the  eluircli  in  Me- 
thuen,  First  Baptist,  Haverhill,  East  Haverhill,  Salisbnrv 
and  Amesbury,  Newbnryport,  Seabrook,  Exeter,  Brentwood, 
Newton  and  Chester,  and  after  due  examination  and  deliber- 
ation, voted  to  proceed  to  the  ordination  of  Brother  Samuel 
C.  Gilbert,  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry-.  First,  prayer 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Harris,  sermon,  Rev.  Mr.  Baron,  prayer.  Rev. 
Mr.  Foster,  charge,  Rev.  Mr.  Williams,  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship, Rev.  Mr.  Fletcher,  concluding  pra^^er.  Ilex.  Mr. 
Burden.  The  first  case  of  discipline  was  in  1833,  when  a 
member  was  excluded  for  immoral  conduct.  A  temperance 
society  was  formed  in  the  church  this  year,  and  the  consti- 
tution presented  to  each  member  for  signature. 

In  1834  five  new  members  were  admitted,  all  of  whom 
have  gone  to  their  reward.  The  j'ear  following,  five  were 
admitted,  of  whom  Deacon  John  Currier  and  wife,  and  Rev. 
Joel  Wheeler  are  now  living.  During  this  year  the  church 
was  called  to  part  with  Rev.  Jabez  True.  Jabez  True  was 
born  at  East  Salisbury,  Jan.  23,  17G4.  His  mother  desired 
him  to  become  a  clergyman,  and  hoped  to  educate  him  for 
the  ministry,  but  did  not  live  to  see  her  wishes  consummated. 
While  teaching  music  at  the  Mills  village,  his  attention  was 
arrested  and  turned  to  the  subject  of  personal  religion,  and 
in  1793  or  '94  he  was  baptized  and  united  witli  tlie  Branch 
Church.  His  father  was  much  displeased,  but  after  a  time 
received  him  again  cordially  to  his  home.  j\Iay  IG,  1794,  he 
was  elected  deacon  ;  three  years  later  was  invited  by  the 
church  to  improve  his  gift  and  in  1801  li(>  was  licensed  as  a 
preacher.  In  1812  he  [was  invited  to  l)ecome  pastor  of  tlu^ 
Salisbury'  and  South  Hampton  Church,  and  was  ordained 
November  5,  of  tliat  ycai'.  From  1821  to  18.')1.  lie  labored 
as  an  Evangelist,  and  with  success.  In  1831  he  was  en- 
rolled as  a  member  of  tlie  South  Hampton  Churcli.  He  i-e- 
mained  witli  the  people  of  liis  choice  till  his  death,  which 
took  i)lacc  in  18;'.."),  when  he  had  completed  his  thi'ce  score 
and  ten. 


u 

The  letter  to  the  Assoeiation  in  t83.j  snys  :  ••  A  year  of 
changes.  In  jNfavch,  Brother  (iiU>ert  removed  to  Beverly, 
and  for  a  time  we  depended  npon  supplies.  In  May.  Eev. 
.Joel  AVheeler  visited  the  town,  and  soon  after  lieeame  pastor. 
AVe  lament  tlie  loss  of  two  i^raying  menibei-s.  especially  onr 
nnich  esteemed  brother.  Jabez  Trne.  an  elder  whose  praise  is 
in  all  the  churches,  and  whose  symi)athy  is  missed  more  and 
more.  Some  precious  souls  embi-aced  the  truth,  among 
Avhom  are  tw((  teachers  and  three  scholars  Irom  the  Sunday 
school." 

Rev.  S.  C.  (iilbert  was  born  in  Boston,  converted  at 
eighteen,  and  was  soon  after  strongly  imi)elled  to  give  him- 
self to  the  gospel  ministry.  Me  was  ordained  here  in  183;>. 
and  ])ecame  tlie  first  regular  pastor  of  the  clnn-ch.  He  re- 
moved to  Beverly,  ilass.  and  afterwards  to  Kennebunk.  and 
during  his  tlu'ee  \'ears'  service  in  Maine,  not  less  than  two 
hundred  were  hopefully  converted.  He  died  at  Rockport, 
Jamiary  27.  1850.  aged  ")()  years.  Kev.  B.  Knight  says  of 
him:  '-As  a  man  he  was  kind,  patient,  laborious  and  cheer- 
ful ;  as  a  minister,  earnest  and  indefatigable.  When  in  the 
pulpit  he  stood  up  boldly  as  a  defendcn-  of  the  faith,  a 
preacher  of  righteousness." 

Kev.  Joel  and  Sister  Julia  A.  AVheeler  were  received  into 
the  fellowship  of  the  church,  September  o,  183.").  During 
their  two  years'  residence,  Brother  AMieeler's  ministry-  of  the 
word  was  most  acceptable.  He  removed  to  Illinois  in  1837, 
and  while  there  was  bereaved  by  the  death  of  his  wife. 
After  nearly  thirty  years"  absence  he  returned  to  this  town, 
and  supplied  the  pulpit  for  a  few  montlis.  He  had  lost  none 
of  his  earnestness  and  zeal,  but  judgment  and  discretion 
were  sometimes  at  fault.  He  afterwards  retui'ued  to  Illinois, 
but  we  are  unable  to  give  his  present  residence. 

Rev.  Otis  Wing,  who  had,  from  its  organization,  been 
deeph'  interested  in  the  success  of  this  church,  was  called  to 
the  pastorate  in  1837,  and  remained  with  the  people  one 
year,  when  Hampton  Falls,  with  its  more  promising  field  of 


45 

usefulness,  called  hiin  away.  Brother  Wing  was  born  in 
Dennis,  April  10,  179f».  Ho  was  converted  at  Smyrna, 
New  York,  in  IHIG,  and  ordained  at  II\-annis  in  1824.  His 
first  pastorates  were  in  Chatham,  Brewster  and  Orleans. 
He  has  been  pastor  of  twenty  different  churclies.  In  P^ast 
Haverhill,  he  baptized  a  hundred  persons. 

In  1838,  the  Association  letter  says  :  "Our  prospects  have 
somewhat  brightened.  We  enjoy  the  stated  ministry  of  the 
word,  and  liave  been  unitedly  laboring  to  sow  the  good  seed 
of  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  hope  to  reap  in  due  season  if  we 
faint  not.  The  weekly  prayer  meeting  is  well  sustained, 
and  a  largei-  congregation  on  the  Sabbath  than  at  any  former 
period." 

Rev.  Samuel  Cook  was  called  to  the  pastorate  this  year. 
He  was  ordained  at  Efflngham,  in  1822,  and  was  settled  in 
Brentwood  and  Hampton  Falls  before  his  pastorate  in  this 
town.  He  afterwards  served  the  churches  in  Hopkinton, 
Meredith  Village,  Dunbarton  and  Newton.  During  his  stay 
with  us  he  preached  the  aiuiual  sermon  at  the  Association. 
He  w^as  Financial  Agent  of  the  Board  of  the  State  Conven- 
tion for  nearly  three  years.  He  died  at  Concord,  at  the  home 
of  his  son,  December,  1871. 

In  1839  the  church  was  somewhat  disheartened.  Brother 
Cook  had  resigned,  the  sanctuarj'  was  deserted  b^'  some  who 
had  been  accustomed  to  attend.  The  Sunday  school  sus- 
pended, and  the  pulpit  was  only  occasional!}'  supplied.  The 
Association  met  witli  us  for  the  first  time  in  this  3'ear.  Rev. 
Isaac  Sawyer  preached  the  introductory  sermon,  and  Rev. 
J.  Aldrich  preached  in  the  afternoon. 

In  1839,  two  were  added  to  the  church,  one  of  whom  is 
still  a  member,  Deacon  A.  J.  Wiggin.  In  1840,  three  were 
added,  one  of  whom.  Sister  Eliza  Ashb}-,  is  now  a  member 
of  the  church  at  East  Northwood.  Of  the  six  added  in  1841 
and  1842,  four  are  living,  Mrs.  Charles  Fuller,  Mr.  Green- 
leaf  Kelley,  and  Deacon  Steplien  AVoodman  and  wife  of  Salis- 
bury.    The  pastor  was  Rev.  George  Aslihy,    who  graduated 


46 

from  New  Hampton,  1831,  was  ordained  at  East  Northwood, 
September,  1833,  and  was  pastor  there  for  seven  j'ears, 
came  to  this  town  in  1840,  remained  two  3'ears,  then  returned 
to  Northwood,  where  he  hved  until  his  death,  May  4.  1873. 
Rev.  Mr.  Taylor  sa3'S  of  him  :  '"He  was  held  in  high  estima- 
tion in  the  community  in  which  lie  lived,  was  greatly  be- 
loved by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  relatives.  He  was  re- 
garded as  a  sound  preacher,  a  good  pastor  and  a  most 
worthy  citizen." 

June  1,  1842,  a  council  was  convened  for  the  purpose  of 
ordaining  Rev.  Samuel  Ladd.  Mr.  Ladd  gave  his  Christian 
experience,  his  call  to  the  ministry',  and  acceptance  of  the 
call  of  this  church,  and  the  council  voted  to  proceed  with  his 
ordination.  The  order  of  services  was  as  follows  :  Reading 
of  Scripture  and  prayer.  Rev.  Abel  Philbrook,  Brentwood  ; 
sermon,  Rev.  Noah  Hooper,  Exeter ;  ordaining  prayer,  Rev. 
0.0.  Stearns,  Hampton  Falls  ;  charge  to  the  candidate. 
Rev.  J.  F.  AVilcox,  Salisbury  ;  right  hand  of  fellowship. 
Rev.  Benjamin  AVheeler,  Plaistow  ;  address  to  the  church, 
Rev.  J.  A.  Boswell,  Newton  ;  concluding  prayer.  Rev.  C. 
W.  Bradbmy,  Salisbury  ;  benediction,  Rev.  Samuel  Ladd. 
The  church  was  united  in  Brother  Ladd,  and  bright  hopes 
were  entertained  for  the  future  ;  but  in  four  brief  months 
their  joy  was  changed  to  sorrow.  The  letter  of  resignation, 
dated  October,  1842,  says:  "I  have  become  full}'  convinced 
that  the  air  of  this  place  iiiaterially  affects  m}-  health.  J 
have  already  suffered  much  in  consequence  of  it ;  for  this 
reason  and  no  other,  I  ask  you  to  dismiss  me  from  my  pas- 
toral duties." 

August,  1842,  on  account  of  the  infirmities  of  the  senior 
deacon,  Thomas  Flanders,  Brother  Stephen  Woodman  was 
chosen  deacon. 

After  the  dismissal  of  Brother  Ladd,  Rev.  Otis  Wing  sup- 
plied the  pulpit  till  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Palmer  C.  Himes. 
During  his  ministr}'  of  nearly  four  years,  eight  members 
united  with  the  churcli,  five  of  whom  are  still  living,  and  one, 


47 

an    earnest    worker    i'or-  Clirist    at    the    present    time,    INIiss 
Rebecca  M.  Sawyer. 

In  October,  184."),  Deacon  Woodman  removed  to  Salisbnry, 
and  nnited  witli  the  chnreh  there.  He  was  born  at  P^ast 
Kingston,  April  IT),  1812  ;  was  converted  at  .Salisbnry  under 
the  labors  of  Rev.  J.  F.  AYilcox,  united  with  the  Baptist 
churcli  in  1837,  was  chosen  deacon  here  in  1842,  and  was 
chosen  to  the  same  office  in  the  Amesbur}'  and  Salisbury 
Church  in  184G,  and  is  now  their  senior  deacon.  Since  he 
left  this  church  he  has  been  one  of  its  most  beniflcent  friends, 
and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  its  members.  On  the 
removal  of  Deacon  Woodman  from  this  place,  George  J. 
Veasey  was  chosen  deacon. 

Rev.  Mr.  Himes  closed  his  pastorate  with  us  in  1847.  He 
was  born  in  Clarendon,  Vermont,  April,  1804,  converted  at 
the  age  of  fifteen,  and  united  with  the  Berkshire  Baptist 
Church.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  b}'  that  church,  and 
labored  at  Sheldon,  Berkshire  and  Franklin,  Vermont,  with 
marked  success.  He  was  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try at  Enosburg  Falls,  March,  1833.  He  was  settled  in  Ver- 
net,  Wilraot,  and  in  this  town,  afterward  in  Wells,  Maine. 
In  all  he  preached  more  than  fort3'  years,  and  died  at  Enos- 
burgh,  March,  1872,  aged  G8  years.  He  was  an  original  and 
vigorous  thinker,  an  earnest  and  faithful  laborer.  Brother 
Himes  was  succeeded  b}'  Rev.  John  K.  Chase,  in  1847  ;  dur- 
ing his  pastorate  two  new  members  wei'c  admitted  to  the 
church. 

August  3,  1849,  the  mother  of  Deacon  Charles  Jewell, 
then  seventy-five  years  of  age,  related  her  Clu-istian  experi- 
ence, and  the  following  Sabbath  tlie  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Chase, 
buried  in  baptism  this  aged  disciple,  it  being  the  first  time  he 
had  ever  administered  the  ordinance.  Brother  Chase  was 
born  at  Exeter,  N.  H.,  converted  at  seventeen,  baptized  by 
Rev.  Benjamin  Wheeler,  and  united  with  the  Baptist  Clunx'h 
in  Plaistow.  He  commenced  preaching  at  the  age  of 
eighteen.     After  resigning  at  Soutli  Ham[)t()n,  he  was  settled 


48 

at  Pittsfield,  Rumiie}',  Rockland,  Holden,  and  is  now  pastor 
of  the  Baptist  Cliurch  in  Rowley.  His  ministry  has  been 
blest  with  nine  precious  revivals.  At  Rumne}-,  one  hundred 
and  thirty  persons  were  baptized  by  him,  nearly  one^ 
tenth  of  the  population  of  the  town. 

In  1850,  Rev.  Samuel  Ladd  was  again  called  to  the  pas- 
torate of  this  church.  He  was  not  in  the  enjoyment  of  good 
health,  but  was  a  faithful  minister.  His  widow,  Mrs.  H.  A. 
Ingraham,  is  now  an  active  worker  in  the  Green  street  Bap- 
tist Church,  Newburyport.  Samuel  Ladd  was  born  at  Brent- 
wood, July,  1817.  He  indulged  hope  in  Jesus  Christ  while 
teaching  in  Plaistow,  in  1837,  and  was  baptized  by  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin Wheeler.  He  was  ordained  at  South  Hampton,  June 
1,  1842.  He  was  pastor  here  at  two  difterent  periods,  and 
was  settled  in  Lyman,  Me.,  Ottawa  and  Fremont,  Illinois,  and 
Lyme,  N.  H.  He  died  in  1854,  at  his  father's  home  at 
Brentwood,  peacefully,  hopefully,  triumphantly,  confident 
that  to  die  was  gain. 

In  1852,  Rev.  C.  H.  Pierson  came  to  this  field  of  labor. 
His  sermons  were  excellently  prepared,  and  his  earnest  man- 
ner won  hiiu  many  friends.  Mrs.  Pierson  was  the  author  of 
"Cousin  Frank's  Household,"  and  several  other  interesting 
books.  Their  daughter,  Mrs.  Helen  C.  Barnard,  is  also  a 
writer  of  some  note. 

In  1852,  the  church  was  called  to  mourn  the  death  of 
Deacon  Thomas  Flanders.  He  was  born  at  South  Hampton, 
Sept.  12,  17G3.  He  experienced  a  new  hope  at  an  early 
age,  and  at  sixteen  united  with  the  Brentwood  Baptist 
Church.  When  seventeen  years  old,  he  became  one  of  the 
constituent  members  of  the  Branch  Baptist  Church  located 
in  this  town.  May,  17G4,  he  was  elected  deacon,  and  from 
that  time  till  the  organization  of  the  new  church  in  Salisbury, 
Deacon  Flanders  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  devoted 
members;  he  had  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  church, 
and  when  the  Branch  Church  requested  an  independent 
organization,  Deacon  Flanders  was  one  of  the  messengers. 


49 

He  was  chosen  committee  to  receive  the  proportion  of  the 
parsonage  rent  clue  the  Baptists,  and  from  1821  to  1830, 
while  one  of  the  most  active  members  at  SaUshury,  he  never 
lost  sight  of  the  interests  of  the  Baptists  in  South  Hampton, 
hence  we  find  him  in  1830,  tlie  acknowledged  leader  of  the 
new  church.  I  can  almost  see  hini  now,  as  I  saw  him  in  my 
boyhood,  standing,  bowed  with  age,  making  his  earnest  ap- 
peal to  the  brethren  to  be  faithful,  and  warning  the  young 
and  thoughtless,  pointing  them  to  the  Lamb  of  God.  From 
his  early  years  he  was  a  constant  and  devoted  student  of  the 
Bible,  of  more  than  ordinary  natural  endowments,  and  a  safe 
counsellor  and  a  devoted  friend.  He  rested  from  his  labors 
September  8,  1852,  aged  89  years. 

October  30,  1853,  the  church  invited  Brother  E.  A.  Ed- 
wards to  become  its  pastor,  and  November  27,  the  invitation 
was  accepted.  A  council  was  called  for  the  purpose  of  or- 
daining Brother  Edwards.  The  churches  invited  to  send 
delegates  were  Marblehead,  Salisbury,  Amesbury,  Stratham, 
Plaistow  and  Exeter.  Brother  Edwards  gave  an  interesting 
account  of  his  Christian  experience,  his  call  to  the  ministry, 
and  views  of  Bible  doctrine,  and  the  council  voted  to  ordain 
him.  The  order  of  service  was  as  follows :  Reading  the 
Scriptures  and  prayer.  Rev.  P.  R.  Russell,  Exeter  ;  sermon 
and  hand  of  fellowship.  Rev.  G.  AV.  Patten,  Marblehead  ; 
ordaining  prayer.  Rev.  P.  B.  Byram,  Salisbury  ;  charge  to 
candidate.  Rev.  Benjamin  Knight,  Stratham  ;  address  to  the 
church  and  concluding  prayer,  Rev.  J.  M.  Chick,  Plaistow  ; 
benediction.  Rev.  E.  A.  Edwards. 

During  his  ministry  with  us  of  two  and  a  half  years,  thir- 
teen members  were  added  to  the  church.  Six  of  these  are 
still  with  us,  and  three  have  passed  on  before.  The  spiritual 
seed  that  had  been  sown  in  former  j'ears  and  watered  with 
many  tears,  had  at  length  sprung  up,  and  a  rich  harvest  was 
enjo3'ed.  No  help  from  abroad  was  received  in  1854,  but  in 
1855  and  1856  Rev.  John  Peacock  labored  for  a  few  weeks. 


50 

Between  thirty  and  forty  persons  expressed  hoi)e  in  God's 
goodness  and  mercy. 

For  man}'  years  there  liad  been  ditliculty  in  seenring  a 
comfortable  residence  for  the  pastor  near  the  house  of  wor- 
ship. In  1842,  when  the  parsonage  money  was  divided, 
one  man  refused  to  accept  his  proportion,  except  as  a  trust. 
and  Nathaniel  Tracj,  all  honor  to  his  name,  did  his  part 
towards  I'ighting  the  great  wrong,  by  leaving  two  hundred 
dollars  to  the  Baptist  Cliurch  and  society  to  lielp  build  a 
parsonage.  In  1854,  a  piece  of  land  was  purchased,  a  build- 
ing moved  thereon,  finished,  and  made  a  convenient  home 
for  the  pastors  of  the  Baptist  Church.  The  house  was  com- 
pleted in  1855,  and  the  same  year  the  Ladies'  Sewing  Circle 
painted  the  meeting-house  and  provided  blinds  for  it.  In 
1854,  Brotlier  Jolni  Currier  was  unanimously  chosen  deacon. 
Deacon  George  J.  'N'easey,  who  had  been  a  faithful  ofiice 
bearer  in  the  church,  had  removed  to  Haverhill,  Mass.  He 
was  born  at  Kensington,  N.  H.,  March  14,  1814,  was  con- 
verted at  East  Kingston,  in  1841,  and  united  with  this  church 
in  1844.  We  may  regard  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  A.  Ed- 
wards, as  a  most  successful  one,  and  it  must  have  been  a 
source  of  great  gladness  to  him  in  his  early  ministry',  to  wit- 
ness such  tokens  of  divine  fiivor.  Rev.  E.  A.  Edwards  was 
born  at  Beverly,  Januar}-,  1824  ;  converted  in  1842.  He 
was  ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry,  December,  1853.  Since 
leaving  us  he  has  had  pastorates  in  Wilton,  N.  H.,  Gay 
Head  and  Mashpee,  Mass.,  and  Cape  Neddick,  Me.  At 
the  last  named  place  the  church  was  greatly  revived  and 
large  additions  were  made  to  it.  Brother  Edwards'  present 
residence  is  Beverlv,  Mass. 

In  June,  185G,  Rev.  S.  E.  Brown  received  and  accei)ted  a 
call  to  the  pastorate,^  and  from  that  time  till  his  death  in 
June,  1862,  he  was  our  loving  and  beloved  pastor.  He  en- 
deared himself  greatly  to  the  people,  and  his  memory  is  still 
tenderly  cherished.  He  was  born  at  P^ast  Kingston,  convert- 
ed when  twenty  3'ears  of  age,  and  entered  upon  his  life  work 


51 

at  twenty- four.  As  an  educator  of  30uth  he  was  devoted, 
earnest  and  effective  ;  as  a  preacher  he  was  correct  without 
coldness,  and  unaffectedly  fervent  in  appeal ;  as  a  pastor  he 
was  affectionate  in  his  intercourse,  and  faithful  in  his  coun- 
sels ;  as  a  Christian  companion,  in  the  relation  of  husband, 
he  offered  a  bright  example  ;  as  a  father,  he  loved  with  fidel- 
ity, and  guided  with  discretion.  When  the  political  rights 
of  the  ministr}'  were  assailed  he  uttered  his  protest,  and  in 
1857,  he  offered  the  following  preamble  and  resolution  to  the 
Association,  and  it  was  adopted : 

Whereas,  a  disposition  has  of  late  been  displayed  in  this  State 
to  deprive  ministers  of  the  gospel  the  right  of  suffrage  in  civil 
questions,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  we  look  Avith  alarm  upon  such  an  encroachment 
upon  the  spirit  of  liberty — that  it  is  wortJiy  of  onl}'  tyrants  to 
make  it,  and  that  as  Baptists  we  are  bound  firmly  and  steadily  to 
resist  it  to  the  last,  even  amid  suffering  and  persecution. 

Resolved,  That  in  demanding  for  ministers  of  the  gospel  the 
right  of  suffrage  in  civil  questions,  we  utterly  disclaim  all  Intent 
or  purpose  to  direct  how  or  for  whom  they  shall  vote,  but  we 
leave  them  as  other  men  are  left  to  follow  in  this  matter  the  dic- 
tates of  their  own  consciences." 

At  the  same  session  of  the  Association,  Brother  Brown 
preached  the  annual  sermon  ;  subject,  "Christian  Consecra- 
tion." Sweet  are  the  memories  that  cluster  round  the  clos- 
ing days  of  his  life.  On  June  2Q^  1862,  a  sorrowing  group 
was  called  to  his  bedside  to  witness  the  falling  asleep  of 
the  devoted  friend  of  the  church  of  Christ.  He  magnified 
Christ  in  life  and  in  death,  and  died  with  the  gospel  armor 
on.  He  was  ready  for  the  crown  of  righteousness,  ripe  for 
the  plucking  of  death  and  the  blessedness  of  immortality. 

In  18(30  the  church  welcomed  the  Association  for  the 
second  time.  It  convened  September  5.  Rev.  W.  H. 
Jones,  of  Brentwood,  preached  the  annual  sermon,  and  other 
sermons  were  preached  by  Rev.  W.  B.  Clapp,  Dover,  Rev. 
W.  II.  Dalrymple,  Stratham,  Rev.  J.  J.  Peck,  Exeter.  The 
circular  letter  was  read  by  its  author,  Rev.  S.  A.  Collins, 
Great  Falls. 


52 

In  June,  1863,  the  church  received  into  its  fellowship,  Rev. 
Erastus  Willard  and  wife.  The}^  came  to  this  people  from 
the  Baptist  church  in  Washburn,  Illinois.  At  this  time  our 
condition  was  apparently  a  prosperous  onp.  The  church 
was  free  from  dissensions,  with  good  attendance  and  atten- 
tion on  the  Sahliath.  In  April,  1864,  Brother  Willard  and 
family  asked  for  letters  of  dismissal.  It  would  have  been 
difficult  for  an}'  pastor  succeeding  the  beloved  and  lamented 
Brown  to  have  been  pre-eminently  successful  among  this 
people,  and  when  we  add  that  Brother  Willard  had  little  in- 
terest in  the  groat  national  struggle  then  going  on,  while 
church  and  people  were  intensh'  patriotic,  it  is  not  surpris- 
ing that  differences  arose  between  pastor  and  people.  Rev. 
Erastus  Willard  was  born  at  Lancaster,  Mass.,  July  1,  1800. 
In  his  twentieth  year  he  was  baptized  and  united  with  the 
church  at  Saxtons  River,  Vermont.  In  1833,  October  30. 
he  was  ordained  at  Grafton,  Vermont,  where  he  was  called 
as  pastor.  In  1835  he  entered  upon  missionary'  work  in 
France.  November,  1844,  he  returned  to  the  United  States, 
having  been  called  to  the  discipline  of  affliction  by  the  loss 
of  a  son  in  1840,  and  the  death  of  his  wife  in  1844.  In  Ma}', 
1846,  he  again  set  sail  for  France,  and  labored  there  for  ten 
years  amid  great  discouragements,  but  'Svith  steadfi^st  and 
courageous  faith,  that  ranked  liim  among  the  first  of  the  men 
the  Missionary  ITnion  sent  out."  After  his  return  to  this 
country  he  received  an  appointment  to  the  mission  among 
the  Ottawas  in  Kansas,  but  health  failed,  and  he  was  obhged 
to  return.  He  came  to  this  place  in  the  evening  of  his  days, 
but  with  intellectual  power  undimmed.  Ilis  last  pastorate 
was  in  Salem,  New  York.  He  closed  his  public  labors  in 
1871,  and  on  December  9.  1871.  .it  Newport,  R.  I.,  he 
quietly  fell  asleep  in  Jesus. 

Rev.  Joel  Wheeler  succeeded  as  a  supph-  to  our  church. 
and  June,  1865,  Rev.  S.  S.  White  was  invited  to  become  the 
pastor,  and  for  two  3'ears  he  ministered  to  the  people. 
TNTiile  here  he  had  the  happiness  of  baptizing  his  only  sou, 


5:3 

Closes  P.  Wliitf.  now  of  Cam1)riclge.  Brother  WIiHl'  was 
l)ora  in  ruhuyra,  Elaine,  Janiuuy,  1<S16;  ordauK'd  to  lln' 
work  ol'  UiL'  Cliristian  ministry  in  the  Christian  denomination 
in  l<Sol),  and  twenty  years  hiter,  after  a  change  in  ehureii 
Older  and  doctrine,  lie  entered  the  Baptist  ministry  at  Effing- 
liani.  N.  II.  ll<j  has  been  pastor  at  Sanhornton,  North- 
wood  and  Lyme,  N.  II.,  and  Jamaica,  Newfane  and 
Vershire,  Vi.  His  present  resilience  is  at  Soutli  Hampton. 
In  18G7  and  18GS.  Rev.  E.  A.  f:dwards  ami  Rev.  J.  E. 
P>rown  wei'e  the  stated  supplies  for  some  months.  From 
July  4,  l.Sd'j.  until  May  G,  1877,  Rev.  James  W.  SeaiU  was 
the  pastor  (jf  this  clmrch.  During  his  pastorate  thirteen 
memliers  were  added  to  the  church.  In  187(1.  the  church 
^vas  called  to  nnjurn  the  loss  of  one  who  hail  been  an  olliee 
licarer  for  many  years.  Charles  Jewell  was  l>orn  in  South 
IIani[)ton,  July  .J,  1802.  His  youth  was  spent  in  this  town,  l)ut 
in  I'arly  manho(jd  ln'  removed  to  XcAvton.  N.  II.,  and  a  few 
years  later  to  Amesbury.  In  b'^.ji  he  returned  to  the  (jld 
homestead  to  spend  his  declining  years.  In  18oU,  he  one 
day  left  a  lad  in  charge  of  the  old  saw  mill  at  Tuxbiuy's, 
(so  called)  anil  went  to  the  little  school-house  near  by  to 
lidicule  the  preaching  of  a  young  man,  who  was  afterwards 
his  l)elo\eil  [)astor,  Samuel  Phnmons  Brown.  He  left  the 
meeting,  not  to  scolf.  but  to  pray.  The  inlinite  Father 
heanl  and  answered  his  [)rayers.  and  in  the  Ibllowing  sum- 
mer he  united  with  the  church  at  South  Hampton.  In  iNo-'J 
he  was  chosen  Deacon,  and  continued  in  that  ollice  till  his 
death,  a  term  of  thiily-eight  years.  He  was  one  of  the  six 
who  erected  the  meeting-house.  Twenty-nine  years  he  was 
superintendent  ol"  the  Sunday  school,  and  for  thirty-three 
years  clerk  of  the  chuich.  In  18;_i.3he  was  called  t(.»  part  IVoiii 
his  wife,  an  estimaljle  Christian  woman,  who  left  him  Ibiii' 
motherless  children,  in  l8;j(;  he  married  a  daughter  of  Deacon 
Benjamin  Rowell.  ol'  Newton.  She  cared  for  him  lcndcrl\ 
through  the  [jrotracted  ph}sieal  sulferings  of  his  last  days, 
and  two  and  a  half  years  later  followe(l  him  beyond  the  ri\er. 


54 

In  1874,  Ihe  Association  met  with  us  lor  the  third  time. 
The  annual  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  H.  H.  Beaman, 
tlie  doctrinal  sermon  by  Rev.  B.  H.  Lane,  of  Newton,  other 
sermons  b^'  Rev.  G.  W.  Gardiner,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  D.  H. 
.Stoddard.  In  1876,  the  convention  letter  says:  "Thrice 
have  we  l>ecn  called  to  the  baptismal  waters,  four  members 
having-  Ik^cu  added  to  our  church."  Unusual  religious  inter- 
est [)revailed  in  1877,  and  our  numbers  were  increased  by 
the  addition  of  rejoicing  converts,  but  in  May  of  that  year 
we  were  called  to  part  with  our  pastor.  Rev.  J.  W.-  Searll. 
Brother  Searll  was  born  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  February, 
18:^5.  He  experienced  hope  in  Christ  in  February,  1852, 
and  was  ordained  at  Richmond,  N.  II.,  in  February,  1858. 
He  remained  at  that  church  eighteen  months.  He  was 
[)astor  at  Swanze}',  for  eight  years,  at  East  Weare,  seventeen 
months.  At  the  close  of  his  pastorate  Avith  us  he  accepted 
the  call  of  the  church  at  Leicester,  Mass.,  which  church  he 
now  acceptably-  serves. 

On  June  o,  l'S77,  the  chuich  extentled  a  call  to  Rev. 
Frank  AV.  Tolman,  of  Dexter,  Me.,  to  become  their  })astor. 
The  c-all  was  accepted,  and  June  21  named  as  the  date  when 
he  would  assume  the  duties  of  the  new  relation.  We  copy 
from  the  church  record  for  July  15  :  "On  June  28,  Rev.  F. 
AV.  Tolman,  the  pastor  elect,  arrived  from  IMaine,  weary  and 
sick.  He  was  unable  to  preach,  and  on  July  U,  his  disease 
culminated  in  a  fever  of  the  typhoid  form,  and  on  July  14, 
he  })assed  away,  aged  thirty-four  years  and  eleven  months. 
He  was  a  man  of  intellectual  power  and  deep  piety."  He 
was  born  at  "Worcester,  August,  1842,  graduated  at  Colhj- 
Universily,  Maine,  in  1866,  and  was  ordained  at  Farmington, 
May,  1870.  He  was  afterward  pastor  at  Campton,  N.  H., 
and  Dexter,  INIaine.  Brother  Tolman  had  man}'  excellent 
qualities,  both  as  })astor  and  preacher.  Rev.  E.  L.  Scott,  of 
Brentwood,  accepted  the  call  of  the  church  October,  1877. 
Brother  Scott  soon  won  friends,  who  enjoyed  his  finished 
written    discourses,    and   who   co-operated  with  him  in  his 


etlurts  to  labur  in  and  lor  tlu-  elmix'li.  lie  resigned  the  pas- 
torate April,  1880,  and  lias  sinee  aceei)ted  a  call  from  the 
church  at  Osterville,  Mass.  Rev.  E.  L.  Scott  was  born  at 
Stoughton,  Mass.,  in  18oU.  In  18G0,  he  experienced  a  rad- 
ical change  in  purpose  of  life.  He  graduated  at  Tufts  Col- 
lege, June,  1874.  He  taught  school  for  nearly  three  3'ears. 
In  187(3,  was  baptized,  and  soon  after  left  his  profession  for 
the  ministry.  In  September,  187G,  he  became  a  licentiate  of 
the  Baptist  church  in  Shirley,  Mass.,  and  in  December, 
cntereil  upon  his  new  work  in  Brentwood,  and  in  March 
following  was  ordained.  Brother  Scott  was  in  earh*  life 
connected  with  the  Universalist  denomination,  but  changed 
his  doctrinal  views  in  187G. 

In  August,  1880,  the  church  extended  a  unanimous  call  to 
Rev.  S.  P.  f!)verett.  of  Coleraine,  and  it  Avas  accepted. 
Brother  P^verett  Avas  born  at  Milford,  N.  H.,  in  1826. 
Converted  at  seventeen,  he  united  with  the  church  at  North 
Leverett,  Mass.  He  was  ordained  at  AVhitingham,  Vermont, 
in  1861),  and  was  pastor  there  three  years.  He  settled  at 
Coleraine,  in  1872,  and  resigned  his  pastorate  there  August 
22,  1880,  to  become  the.pustor  of  this  church. 

The  deacons  of  the  church  have  been  : 

Thomas  Flanders,  from  I80O  to  lSo2. 

Charles  Jewell,  from  1833  to  1870. 

Stephen  AVoodman,  from  1842  to  1845. 

George  J.  Veasey,  from  1845  to  1851. 

John  Currier,  from  1854  to  1880. 

Abner  J.  Wiggin.  from  1870  to  18-sO. 

John  Currier  was  born  in  South  Hampton.  bS02  ;  was  con- 
verted in  1834.  under  the  mini^liy  of  Rev.  S.  C.  Clilbert, 
united  with  tlie  church  iji  1835,  and  in  1851  w;is  chosen  Dea- 
con, which  otlict'  he  now  holds.  .Mmcr  J.  Wiggin  was  liorn 
in  Stralham,  1.S13.  aiul  elates  his  coinersion,  1827,  I'cmovcd 
to  South  Hampton  in  1838,  united  with  the  church  the  Ibllo\\- 
ing  year,  and  in  bS70  was  chosen  Deacon  of  the  church.  I 
jiave  not  lieen  al»le  to  ascertain  who  was  clerk  of  tiie    chiin  li 


56 

iVum  1830  to  LSoG.  At  the  last  iiaiiiod  date,  Charles  Jewell 
appears  as  church  clerk,  and  he  held  the  ollice  till  his  death, 
lie  was  succeeded  hy  his  sou,  who  resigned  in  1878,  and 
Brother  P.  V.  Whitehouse  was  chosen.  Phineas  P.  White- 
house  was  horn  at  Ilampstead,  N.  11.,  August,  1842,  converted 
at  South  Hampton,  during  the  series  of  meetings  conducted 
l)y  Rev.  John  Peacock  ;  was  baptized  at  Muirkirk,  Mary- 
land in  18G8,  admitted  to  this  church,  hy  letter,  September, 
1877,  and  chosen  clerk  of  the  church  January  ol,  187'J. 

The  Sunday  school  connected  with  the  church  was  organ- 
ized in  1831,  soon  after  tlie  formation  of  the  church.  In 
1833  it  had  seven  teachers  and  lifty  pu[)ils.  In  183D,  the 
school  was  suspended  for  a  tijue,  l)ut  re-organized  in  1840. 
In  1853,  we  find  it  one  of  the  five  scliools  represented  at  the 
lirst  meeting  of  the  Sunday  School  Convention.  In  1854, 
the  school  was  largely  attended  and  very  interesting.  The 
largest  attendance  ever  reported  was  in  1857;  thirty-seven 
new  scholars  Avere  added  that  year.  In  1850,  we  welcomed 
the  Sunday  School  Convention  and  it  was  full^'  attended.  In 
1S71,  the  Convention  againmet  in  this  town,  and  held  a  ver}* 
interesting  session.  A  concert  exci'cise.  entitled  the  Monu- 
ment of  Faith,  was  gi\en  l»y  the  South  Hampton  Sunday 
school. 

In  1873,  Rev.  J.  W.  Searll,  our  pastor,  read  the  essay  be- 
fore the  Sunday  School  Convention  at  Newton.  The  Superin- 
tendent of  this  school  read  a  i»;ii)er  before  the  same  body  in 
1879,  and  gave  the  "historical  sketch"  in  1880. 

Charles  Jewell  was  President  of  the  Portsmouth  Baptist 
Sunday  School  Convention  in  1867,  and  the  present  superin- 
tendent was  chosen  president  in  1870,  and  has  held  the  [)Osi- 
tion  till  the  present  time. 

The  following  Invlhren  ha\e  served  the  Sunday  school  as 
superintendents:  Rev.  Geo.  AV.  Ashl)y,  John  Currier,  A.  J. 
AViggin,  George  J.  A^'eazey,  Stephen  AVoodman,  Charles 
Jewell,  P.  P.  AA'^hitehouse,  and  the  present  incumbent. 

During  the  fifty  years,  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  persons 


have  been  connected  with  this  church,  fifty-two  haxo  been  dis- 
missed to  the  fellowship  of  other  Baptist  clmrclies,  and 
nine  have  been  excluded  from  membershij). 

We  have  at  present  twenty-seven  resident,  and  eight  non- 
resident, members.  There  lias  always  been  a  determination 
on  the  pait  of  tlie  members  to  maintain  the  principles  of  the 
Baptist  denomination.  The  church  has.  been  assisted  in  its 
efforts  to  sustain  public  worship  by  many  citizens  of  the 
town  ;  those  of  other  denominations,  constantly  worshipping 
with  us,  contributino-  to  the  support  of  the  ministry,  assisting 
in  devotional  meetings,  and  in  everyway  co-operating  with  us. 
Without  this  help,  and  the  aid  of  tlie  convention,  this  churcli 
would  probalily  long  ago  have  ceased  to  exist. 

Surrounded  as  wearetliis  evening  by  those  interested  in 
our  welfare,  may  we  not  in  this  presence  utter  tlie  benediction 
of  Solomon  : 

^'The  Lord  our  God  be  witli  us,  as  He  was  with  our  fathers  : 
let  Him  not  leave  us,  nor  forsake  us  :  tliat  He  may  incline  our 
hearts  unto  Him,  to  walk  in  all  His  ways,  and  to  keep  His 
commandments,  and  His  statutes,  and  His  judgments,  wherein 
He  commanded  our  fathers." 


FREE-WILL   BAPTIST   CHURCH 


On  tlip  funrtppnth  of  Auonst.  A.  D.  1S;30.  Ilic  first  Free 
Will  Baptist  clmroh  in  South  Iliunpton  wns  oi-onnized.  with 
spvpn  ponstitupnt  nipnilipTs  :  James  Woodman.  Eunicp  "Wood- 
man, Ezra  Flandprs.  "William  C'arr.  Mary  C'arr  and  Dorothy 
Goodwin.  The  first  meeting  was  held  in  the  house  oF  Bi'oth- 
er  James  "Woodman.  (His  house  was  on  the  same  site  as 
that  now  owned  liy  ^Nlrs.  Sanmel  J.  "Woodman,  of  this  town.) 
They  held  that  every  lu'other  and  sister  in  oood  standing 
should  have  tlie  privilege  to  improve  the  gift  that  God  has 
given  them,  in  all  meetings,  aecording  to  the  word  and  spirit 
of  God.  The  spcond  meeting  of  the  ehnrch  was  held  at 
Brother  ReuVien  Flanders"  ;  Elder  Asa  Merrill  preached,  and 
baptized  Nancy  and  Hannah  Pierce.  Reuben  Flanders' 
house  was  on  the  road  to  Tuxbin-y's  ]Mills,  and  is  now 
occui)ied  by  John  H.  Flanders  and  sister.  Jonathan  Ring 
and  wife  were  baptized  )iv  Elder  Henry  Pottle,  October  2'). 
The  first  monthlv  church  meeting  was  held  at  Levi  B. 
Pierce's,  Octol)er  IH.  December  1(1,  Ezra  Flanders  and 
Levi  B.  Pierce  were  chosen  deacons,  and  James  AVoodman. 
clerk.  June  14,  LSOl,  Brother  Asa  Merrill  preached  at  the 
house  of  Brother  ]\roses  Tuxbnrv.  and  on  the  same  day 
Peter  Colby,  Hannah  Hoit,  Moses  M.  Tuxbury,  and  ]Marv. 
his  wife,  were  baptized.  Peter  Coll\y  afterwards  became  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Christian  church,  in  Newton,  and 
Moses  M.  Tuxbury  and  wife,  of  the  Baptist  church  in  this 
place.  Elder  Bean,  Elder  Knowles  and  Elder  James  Mer- 
rill frequently  preached  at  this  time.  The  first  record  of  the 
breaking  of  bread  was  on  Nov.  20,   1831,  at  the  house  of 


59 

Reuben  Flanders.  On  May  15, 1833,  the  church  united  with 
the  New  Durham  Quartei'ly  Meeting,  afterwards  was  dismissed 
from  that,  and  united  with  the  Rockingliam  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing, October  7,  ISo.k  On  July  7,  183;5,  tlicir  meeting  was 
held  at  the  old  meeting-liouse,  and  on  Ai)ril  G,  1S34,  at  llic 
school-house.  District  number  2,  and  later  the  same  year  at 
the  town  house,  June  22.  Elder  Samuel  P^nnnons  lb-own 
preached  at  the  town  house  ;  nearly  all  the  meetings  of  the 
church  were  held  at  the  town  house  at  that  time.  Brother 
Charles  Stevens,  Elder  John  Kimball  and  Elder  D.  II.  Lord 
were  among  the  preachers  who  supplied  the  pnlpil  :il  tliis 
time. 

From  183G  there  were  freriuent  cases  of  clnu'cli  disciiilinc. 
One  of  the  members  was  guilty  of  intoxication,  and  linally 
expelled  for  that  sin.  In  1837,  we  find  the  diuicli  rrci.id 
dated  Sahsbury  for  the  first  time.  In  1838,  meetings  were 
frequently  held  at  Allan's  Corner  school-lionse.  February, 
1839,  Brother  Pelatiah  Hanscom  attended  the  nionlhly  meet- 
ing at  Jonathan  Ring's.  Apiil  20,  Levi  B.  Pierce  was  chos- 
en  to  consult  the  church  in  Stratham,  in  reference  to  the 
ordination  of  Bi'other  Hanscom  ;  in  May,  Mr.  Hanscom  re- 
moved from  Exeter  to  tiiis  town.  July  L  IS  10,  INIr. 
Hanscom  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  minis! ry. 
and  became  the  first  regulai-  pastor  of  the  church. 

A  general  nde  was  establislie(L  that  at  chnrcli  meetings 
each  member  present  should  mak(!  a  verbal  statement  ol" 
God's  dealing  with  him  for  the  month  past,  arud  those  who 
did  not  attend  were  i'ef|uii'ed  to  send  a  written  excuse. 

February  10,  1841,  Elder  Hanscom  i'e(|nested  the  church 
to  express  their  feelings  in  regard  to  his  laboring  with  them 
longer,  and  it  was  nnanimousl}'  agreed  ]>y  :dl  iJrcscnl,  that 
he  should  tari'v  longer  if  he  felt  that  thus  sailli  the  Loid.  :ind 
we  should  gladly  retain  him.  Elder  Hanscom  conchidcd  lo 
tarrv  till  his  call  was  greater  IVom  the  Lord  (o  nnolhcr  phicc. 

In  1841,  the  services  were  neai'ly  all  held  .-il  Ihc  lowu 
house  and  the  school-house  in  District  nnnihcr  2. 


(iO 

March  2(1.  1.S41.  Klilci-  ITan^com  liooanip  tlie  sulijoct  of 
eluiroli  discipline,  and  the  records  say  that  he  has  had  re- 
peated personal  entreaties,  and  lie  has  also  lieen  kindly  ad- 
monished Ity  two  or  three,  and  wc  hope  the  trial  will  lie  set- 
tled without  entering  into  chnrdi  lalior.  ]May  2.  1S42.  the 
tbllowino-  certificate  appears  : 

"This  certilies  that  Bi'other  Pclatiali  llan>eoni  exjji'psses  Id  us, 
the  undersio-iipil,  iJial  lie  lias  no  trial  with  the  First  Free  Will 
Baptist  Church  of  Christ,  in  this  town,  from  which  he  is  dismissed 
this  dav. 

•'CHARLES  W.  HOir. 

"JAINIES  WOODMAN. 

"AZOH  C.  WOOl):\IAX." 

The  Rockingham  (^}iiarterly  Conference  was  hehl  in  the 
town  house.  May  24.  1842.  The  church  meetings  this 
year  and  afterward,  were  frequently  hehl  at  Dorothy  "Wood- 
man's, at  Ameshury.  and  at  Allen's  Corner  school-house, 
Salisbury.  In  1844,  services  were  held  at  the  Ameslniry 
Academy.  Elder  Asa  Merrill,  frequently  preaching.  In 
1845,  the  meetings  were  held  at  Allen's  Corner  and  the 
Mills  Village,  with  an  occasional  sermon  at  South  Hampton. 
In  184  7,  the  church  is  spoken  of  as  being  in  a  hike  warm 
state.  In  1848.  Elder  Benjamin  II.  McMnrphy  was  dis- 
missed from  the  church  in  Raymond,  and  became  the  sec- 
ond pastor  of  this  church.  In  1848  and  1849,  the  meetings 
were  nearly  all  held  at  Allan's  Corner  school-hcnse.  and 
Amesbury  Academy. 

Septembei*  20,  1840,  the  Free  Will  Baptist  meeting-house 
was  dedicated.  It  was  situated  near  the  residence  of  Mr. 
James  Quimby,  in  Salisliurv.  Tlie  dedication  sermon  was 
preached  by  Elder  Elias  Ilutchins.  !•  will  give  the  last  rec- 
ord of  the  South  Hampton  Free  AVill  Baptist  Church.  October 
20,  1849.  '-Elder  W.  P.  Merrill  preached  in  the  meeting- 
house, had  a  full  house,  many  went  back  for  want  of  room, 
had  a  good  meeting,  communion  ;  our  (|uarterly  letter 
forw.arded  by  Elder  Merrill." 

During  the  nineteen  vears"  history  of  this  church,  foi'tv' 


61 

eight  persons  were  admitted  to  its  inemliership.  Botli  of  its 
deaeons  are  still  livino-.  Deacon  Ezra  Flanders,  son  of  Dea- 
con Thomas  Flanders,  in  this  town,  and  Mr.  Levi  B.  Pierce, 
at  Havci'hill,  iNIass.  The  clnircli  is  still  <'()iitiiined  at  Ames- 
bury,  it  beinii'  considered  advisable  to  change  its  location  to 
that  thriving  and  prosperous  town. 


OTHER  RELIGIOUS  HISTORY. 


Tlie  population  of  South  Hampton  in  177'>,  was  498  ;  in 
1790,  448;  in  18:);'),  472,  and  in  1880  it  is  383.  Tiie  in- 
come of  tlip  ]iarsonage  from  1800  to  1833  averaged  between 
seventy  and  eiglity  dollars,  and  the  town  nsnally  raised  a 
sum  not  exoeeding  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  a  year  for 
preaching ;  this,  together  with  the  interest  on  the  North 
Parsonage  money,  $23G.33j  was  expended  by  a  committee, 
consisting  of  two  or  more  persons  with  the  Selectmen,  and 
was  divided  among  the  different  religious  denomination  propor- 
tionately to  their  tax.  In  1810,  the  Congregationalists  had 
about  three-tenths  of  the  income,  the  Methodists  two-tenths, 
and  the  Universalists  one-tenth.  In  1820,  the  Methodists  had 
about  one-fourth,  the  Congregationalists  one-fifth,  the  Univer- 
salists a  little  less  than  one-third.  In  1830,  the  Unitarians 
had  one-twelfth,  the  Methodists  one-ninth,  the  Congregation- 
alists one-seventh,  and  the  Universalists  one-third.  From 
1825  to  1830,  the  Universalists  employed  as  preachers.  Rev. 
Messrs.  Case,  Farnsworth,  King,  Adams  and  others  :  the 
Congi'egationalists,  Rev.  Messrs.  Barrett,  Sawyer,  Cook,  Mil- 
ton, C4rovenor,  Babbitt,  Walsh  and  others:  the  Methodists^ 
Rev.  Messrs.  Brooks,  Peasle^',  Bnlfinch  and  others ;  the 
Unitarians,  Rev.  Mr.  Turner  ;  the  Christians,  Rev.  Elijah 
Sliaw  ;  the  Baptists,  Rev.  Jabez  True,  Rev.  James  Barnal»y, 
Rev.  Benjamin  Harris  and  others  ;  the  Free  AVill  Baptists, 
Miss  Nancy  Towle,  and  Rev.  Messrs.  Boothby,  Ambrose, 
Marsh  and  others. 

In  1830,  the  subject  of  selling  the  parsonage  began  to  be 
agitated.     Alreadv  the  barn  had  been  sold   for  a  small  sum. 


G:3 

rin'd  two  acres  of  land  leased  for  nine  hnndred  years.  In 
1832,  the  present  town  honse  was  located  ;  the  next  year  the 
standing  wood  was  sold,  the  site  for  the  Barnard  sehool-honse 
granted,  and  tliat  of  the  Baptist  chnrch,  and  in  1834,  the 
Burying  Oronnd  was  laid  out,  and  the  remainder  of  the  prop- 
erty sold  in  184'2.  The  anioinit  put  to  interest  for  religious 
purposes  was  $2,585.97.  The  income  of  this  money  in  1834 
and  1835  was  divided  among  the  following  societies  :  Deists, 
Naturalists,  Second  Universalists,  Congregationalists,  Qua- 
kers, Unitarians,  Episcopals,  Baptists,  Free  Baptists, 
Methodists,  Bhilanllu'opists,  Free  Thinkers  and  Universal- 
ists. 

The  Second  Univorsalist  Society  was  simply  an  accommo- 
dation for  some  who  had  little  or  no  religious  l)elier,  to  seciu'e 
a  part  of  the  income  of  the  parsonage  fund.  The  regular 
Universalist  society  was  at  this  time  at  the  lieiglit  of  its  [)ros- 
perity.  It  is  probable  that  when  Rev.  George  Richards  was 
settled  in  Portsmouth,  from  1793  to  1809,  the  seeds  of  that 
faith  were  sown  in  this  town,  and  when,  later,  Hosea  Ballon 
was  settled  in  the  same  place,  his  biographer  says  :  "He  did 
not  hesitate  somestimes  to  leave  the  dear  people  of  his 
charge  and  journey  to  other  places.  He  went  into  other 
parts  of  New  Hampshire,  and  sometimes  extended  his  visits 
in  Massachusetts."  Among  the  Universalist  ministers  who 
A'isited  the  town  was  Rev.  Sebastian  Streeter,  and  a  society 
was  formed  as  early  as  1815,  with  Joseph  Jones  as  clerk. 
The  prominent  citizens  who  embraced  U^niversalism  were 
Benjamin  Barnard,  founder  of  the  Barnard  Sdiool,  Colonel 
Abel  Brown,  Nathan  Brown,  Richard  Wiiitc  and  Jacol)  .lew- 
ell.  In  1828,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Rockingiiam  Universalist 
Association,  hehl  at  Kingston,  Mrs.  Richai'd  "While  was  the 
only  lady  present.  In  1830,  the  Universalist  society  at 
South  Hampton,  was  re[)orted  in  a  nourishing  condition  ;  the 
old  society  had  been  iv-organize«l,  and  Benjamin  C'Hllord  was 
clerk.  The  Rockingham  Association  met  in  this  town  for 
the  lirst  lime  in    1n;»2.     Among  the  speakers  present  we  can 


64 

name  Rev.  Messrs.  Farnsworth,  Thomas  King,  Hosea  Ballon, 
Tliomas  Wliittemore  and  Sebastian  Streeter.  The  disoonrse 
ol'thc  lallcv  was  esiiecially  a  fleet  ing,  and  as  liespf)kc  of  those 
who  had  I'eeently  passed  away,  Benjamin  Barnard,  Tvicliard 
White  and  Jaeo1)  Jewell,  the  andienee  was  melted  to  tfars. 
Ill  l.sr)S  the  Bockingham  Assoeiation  again  mot  in  this  town. 
Rev.  Messrs.  Sehastian  Streeter,  Daniel  Smith  and  Thomas 
AVhittemore  preaehed.  Of  this  meeting  Mr.  AVhittemore 
said:  '"We  know  tliat  if  we  deseribed  this  meeting  as  we 
viewed  it  nui}  felf  it,  we  shonld  l)e  regai'ded  as  too  entliusi- 
astie  ;  nevertheless  we  mnst  say  that  taken  all  together  il  was 
one  of  the  most  piveious  meetings  we  ever  attended.  The 
eonference  and  praise  meetings  were  peenliai'ly  interesting  ;  all 
the  addresses  were  marked  by  sonnd  wisdom  and  deep  evan- 
gelical feeling."  InlSal,  the  Rockingham  Association  again 
met  at  Sonth  Hampton.  Sermons  were  delivered  b}'  Rev. 
AYilliam  Bell,  Rev.  S.  S.  Fletcher,  Rev.  N.  Goldsmith,  Rev. 
T.  J.  Greenw^ood  and  Rev.  L.  B.  Mason.  At  this  meeting 
Rev.  Sanmel  Ladd,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  chnrch,  was  an 
attentive  listener.  In  ISr)^,  a  new  impetns  was  given  to  the 
Universalist  society  throngh  the  activities  of  the  Ladies  Sew- 
ing Circle. 

Rev.  A.  .1.  Paterson  and  Rev.  G.  V.  Maxham  came  to  this 
town  under  the  direction  of  the  United  States  Convention, 
and  regnlar  meetings  were  established  at  the  town  house. 
Messrs.  B.  F.  Eaton  and  J.  J.  Woodman  read  sermons  with 
occasional  preaching  in  the  smnmer  months  l»y  Rev. 
Messrs.  Greenwood,  Patterson,  Spanlding,  CLiambre  and 
others.  A  Sunday  School  was  organized,  with  J.  AV.  Eaton 
as  superintendent,  and  a  hbrary  of  more  than  two  hundred 
volumes  secured. 

The  summer  cf  1859  closed  these  lay  services.  The  Rock- 
ingham Association  met  in  this  town  in  18G4.  The  preachers 
were  Rev.  Messrs.  William  Bell,  S.  S.  Fletcher,  A.  St.  John 
Chambre  and  T.  J.  Borden.  AVhile  at  Poi'tsmouth,  Rev. 
Mr.  Patterson  was  much  interested  in  the  peojJeof  this  town. 


65 

A  large  niuiihc-r  urUu'  iiiliahUauls  still  liuld  llic  iloclriiios  of 
llic  rnherwulist  church.  No  services  have  l)eeii  held  here 
lor  ,se\eral  years  excei)t  on  funeral  occasions.  Since  the  re- 
nio\al  ol"  the  i»e\vs  IVoni  the  town  house,  the  Baptist  meet- 
ing-house has  been  freeh'  otlered  to  any  who  desired  it,  for 
funeral  services,  for  the  nieniljers  of  any  religous  denomina- 
tion. There  Avere  quite  a  number  of  Methodists  in  the  town 
between  1810  and  l-Soo,  and  Rev.  John  Brodhead  freciuently 
preached  here.  lie  was  stationed  at  diflbrent  times  in  nearly- 
all  the  surrounding  towns  of  the  county.  He  was  a  very 
prominent  iiian.  chai)lain  to  the  Legislature,  member  of  the 
State  Senate,  and  for  four  years  memljer  of  Congress.  In 
whatever  situation  Mr.  Brodhead  was  placed,  he  considered 
it  liis  chief  honor  to  be  a  faithful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 
II J  s[)jnt  tw.'uly-eight  years  of  his  ministerial  life  in  this 
iunnediate  vicinity,  and  died  at  Newmarket.  April  7,  1838. 
He  had  a  commanding  personal  ap[)earance  and  eyes  l»eam- 
ing  with  intelligence  and  benevolence. 

Another  prominent  Methodist  divine,  who  preached  in  this 
town,  was  lvi'\-.  Martin  Kuter  ;  he  was  stationed  at  Salisbury 
in  181,').  He  was  born  at  Charlton,  Worcester  County,  INIass., 
and  was  thii'ly  years  old  when  he  preached  here.  The  de- 
gree of  Doctoi-  of  Divinity  was  coiderred  u[)on  him  five  years 
later.  His  [)reaching  was  ailapted  at  once  to  please,  to 
instruct  and  to  awaken. 

Uev.  lolias  Smith,  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  and 
llic  futhei' of  IMatthew  Hale  Smith,  occsionally  [jreached  here. 

in  18(;7,  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Ames- 
burv,  Mass.,  liy  a  delegation,  the  leaders  of  which  were  Mr. 
Thomas  (^iiimby,  INIr.  Joseph  ().  Hutchins  and  Mr.  Carpentei', 
established  a  lay  meetiug  at  tlu;  school-house  in  District  No. 
2.  A  SiiMtalh  school  was  (jrganize<l,  and  a  very  good 
Sabbnih  school  liln'ary  secured.  The  meetings  were  well 
attended,  and  tin;  Sabl)ath  school  concerts  attractt'd  atlt'iition. 
These  services  continued  about  two  years. 

In  1871,  St.  Paul's  Cluiruh,  Newburyport,  (Episcopal)  or- 


66 

ganized  a  mission  niccling'  at  llir  residL'iicc  of  Mr.  E.  P. 
Downing,  Avliicli  was  for  a  lew  nionlli.s  well  sustained.  Mr. 
C.  T.  Bruce,  a  layman,  and  a  select  choir  from  that  church 
assisting.     Tlieir  meetings  were  held  on  Sabbath  afternoons. 

Sabbath  afternoon  services  are  frequently  held  during  the 
summer  months  at  the  school-house  in  District  No.  3,  by 
pastors  of  tlie  churches  at  Amesbury,  Salisbury  and  this 
town,  and  also  by  the  resident  clergyman,  Kev.  S.  S.  White. 

The  distrHjution  of  the  parsonage  money,  which  occurred  in 
1842,  was  a  blow  to  all  denominations,  excejjt  the  Baj)tist. 
Our  fathers  set  apart  certain  property  for  the  maintenance  of 
religious  worship,  and  we  cannot  but  regard  the  disposal  x»f 
the  property-  and  the  distril)ution  of  the  proceeds  among  the 
inhal)itants  of  the  town,  was  a  great  wrong. 

In  jircscnting  this  sketch  of  the  religious  history  of  the 
town,  I  have  endeavored  in  the  lirief  space  allowed  me  to 
bring  forward  such  facts  as  would  [)rove  most  interesting  to 
the  citizens. 

As  we  re\iew  the  religious  hislor\-  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  3'ears  can  we  discern  any  progress  ?  Has  light  come  to 
the  people  ? 

There  has  at  least  one  great  problem  l)ecn  settled — the 
question  of  reli[/iuus  ioleratioit. 

The  germ  of  all  the  trouble  in  regard  to  religious  liberty  is 
found  in  that  compact  made  in  the  Mayflower  Ijcfore  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers  had  stei)ped  upon  the  rock  in  Plymouth  harbor. 
'J'he  question  was  raised  how  shall  the  ministers  of  the  new 
country  be  sup[)orted  ^  It  was  ordered  that  houses  lie  built 
for  them  at  the  public  charge,  and  their  salaries  were  estab- 
lished. Those  people  who  had  fled  from  persecution  them- 
selves, did  not  fully  comprehend  the  principles  of  religious 
lilierty  or  })0ssess  its  spirit.  In  this  compact  of  the  Pilgrims, 
was  the  union  of  church  and  state,  and  immediately  follow- 
ing this  was  a  law  for  the  suppression  of  anti-church  and  state 
sects,  and  banishments  from  the  colony  was  the  penalty  for 
not  sustaining  this  unjust  law. 


67 

People  were  eoiii[)elled  in  those  days  to  pay  for  elmrelics 
they  never  entered,  for  teaching  they  never  heard,  and  cleri- 
cal services  they  did  not  desire.  The  Quaker,  the  Bai)tist, 
the  Methodist  and  the  Universalist  was  taxed  for  the 
sui)i)ort  of  a  religion  he  did  not  believe. 

Barstow,  in  his  history  of  New  nam})shire  says,  ''That  all 
ministers  not  of  the  standing  order  were  viewed  as  thieves 
and  robl)ers,  as  wolves  in  sheep's  clothing,  who  had  gained  a 
dishonest  entrance  into  the  fold,  and  whom  it  was  the  duty 
of  the  standing  order  to  drive  out." 

Persecutions  were  frequent,  and  the  parish  collectors  might 
be  often  seen  taking  from  the  home  of  poverty  the 
chairs,  tables  and  andirons,  or  selling  at  auction  the  corn  of 
some  poor  laborer.  Humorous  incidents  were  sometimes 
connected  with  these  trials.  In  one  case  the  plaintitl'  had 
seciued  the  scr\ici!S  of  Mr.  Smith  and  Jeremiah  Mason,  and 
the  defense  John  Sullivan  and  lclial)od  Bartlett,  as  counsel. 
jMason  contended  that  the  defendant,  whose  defense  was 
(hat  he  was  a  Baptist,  could  not  avoid  the  payment  of  his 
tax,  because  "he  could  not  prove  that  he  had  ever  been 
dipped  ;"  thereupon  Bartlett  retorteil  "neither  is  he  a  Con- 
gregationalist,  for  he  has  not  [)roved  he  that  has  ever  been 
sprinkled." 

The  law  of  ITUl,  recognized  only  one  religious  sect,  and 
the  agitation  for  its  repeal  shook  New  ]Iami)sliire  from  sea- 
board to  mountain. 

AVhen  the  toleraticju  bill  was  pending,  in  181!),  INIr.  IIul)- 
bard  said:  "I'ass  this  bill,  and  tlie  temi)les  now  consecrated  to 
the  worshi[t  of  (he  Saviour  of  the  world  will  soon  be  deserted 
and  I'orsakcu." 

lclial)o<l  Barllctt,  a  young  an<I  talented  lawyer  of  I'orts- 
moulli,  cs[tuused  the  cause  of  toleration,  and  linally  the  bill 
liecanie  a  law,  and  all  religious  denominations  in  the  State 
were  possessed  of  etjual  rights  and  [)rivileges. 

Let  us  rejoice  that  we  beholil  this  day.  Nearly  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  years  ago,  on  this  consecrated  land  our  fathers 


68 

lifted  the  slanlurd  ol' tlii'  Cru.ss  urCluist.  "NVc  livr  in  the 
past  thruugli  the  knowledge  of  this  earl^-  history.  We  come 
into  the  assoeiations  of  our  ancestors  by  reviewing  their  Uves, 
b}'  sharing  their  sentiments  and  l»y  partaking  of  their  spirit. 
We  look  around  and  behold  the  hills  and  valleys  where  the 
eyes  of  our  fathers  and  mothers  lirst  beheld  the  light  of  day. 
Tliey  liave  left  us  a  goodly  heritage.  Shall  we  be  worthy  of 
the  trust?  In  the  language  of  New  Hampshire's  most  distin- 
guished son.  "Our  fathers  were  brought  hither  l)y  their 
high  \eneration  for  tlie  Christian  religion.  Tliey  journeyed 
by  its  light  and  labored  in  its  hope.  They  sought  to  iucor- 
}»orate  its  principles  with  the  elements  of  their  society,  and  to 
ditluse  its  influence  through  all  its  institutions,  civil,  political 
and  literary.  Let  us  cherish  these  sentiments,  and  extend 
this  influence  still  more  widely,  in  the  full  conviction  that 
that  is  the  hapi)iest  society  which  partakes  in  the  highest 
degree  of  the  mild  and  peaceable  spirit  of  Christianity." 

To  our  successors  we  say  :  ''Advance  ye  future  generations  ! 
AVe  bid  you  welcome  to  the  verdant  hillsides  and  the  fertile 
valleys,  where  our  ancestors  planted  the  germs  of  Christianity. 
We  welcome  you  to  the  blessings  of  good  government  and 
religious  lil)erty.  We  welcome  you  to  the  immeasurable 
blessings  of  rational  existence,  the  inunortal  hope  of  Christi- 
anity and  the  light  of  everlasting  Truth." 


APPENDIX. 


TIk^  Ibllowing  petition,  IuuikI  in  Provincial  Papers  of  New 
Hampshire,  Vol.  IX,  page  358,  Avas  made  January,  1742,  or 
near  that  date  : 

rctUio)!,  of  pcrso)ix  fonucrli/    of  Micsmu^liioscUt^  to  be  aiuicxcd  to 
JIaniptoit  Falls. 

To  his  P^xceleney  Bening  Wint\vorthPls(|.  Governor  and  Com- 
mander in  eheif  In  and  over  his  Majesties  Province  of  New 
IIamj)shire  and  the  Honorable  the  Counsel  now  setting  in 
said  Province. 

The  Humble  address  and  Petition  of  His  Majesties  Legal 
and  deutil'ull  Subjects  Avhose  names  are  hereunto  Subscribed 
Avliich  did  belong  to  the  Esterly  part  of  Salisbery  but  now  by 
the  Settlement  of  the  Province  Lines  Fall  into  Ncav  Ilami)- 
sliire  most  llumljl}-  sheweth  that  your  petitioners  are  Inform- 
ed that  those  which  did  Ijelong  to  the  westerly  Part  of  Salis- 
bury and  some  of  Almsbery  which  by  said  Lino  falls  into 
New  Hampshire  Intends  to  Petition  that  all  those  Persons 
that  did  belong  to  Salisbery  and  Almsbery  &  uoav  taken  Into 
New  Hampshire  might  Ije  made  in  to  a  twoAvn  ship  or  Parish 
b}'  themselves  &  not  annexed  to  any  other,  and  have  Prt;- 
sumed  so  lar  as  to  set  up  a  frame  lor  A  Meeting  House  in 
the  Westerly  Part  which  if  it  should  be  granted  would  be 
very  I'regeditial  to  your  Petitioners  who  live  most  of  us  al)ove 
six  miles  from  said  meeting  house  so  y'  those  of  us  that  frt;- 
quent  y'  way  of  Worsliip  Could  n(jt  attend  the  worshi})  of  God 
with  our  wives  and  families  as  we  out  to  doo  and  for  all 
()ther  allairs  belonging  tc;  a  town  or  Parish  of  all  tilings  that 
are  notilied  at  said  meeting  house  we  shall  have  no  knowledge 
of  them  Avliich  may  be  greatly  to  our  Damage  and  a  great 
Dificulty  iS:  Ti'olde  to  select  men  and  Constables  and  all  such 
alfocirs. 

We  Therefore  Humbly  Pray  that  we  may  not  lie  joyned  to 
tliem  but  may  l)e  Annexed  to  Hampton  Falls  or  some  other 

t; 


70 


■way  as  in  A'our  "n'isclom  y 
tioners  as  in  duty  boiuid 

Sam'^  Eaton 
Joseph  Page 
-Jabcz  Eaton 
Jaeob  Erencli 
Ephraim  Eaton 
John  True 
}>enianiin  Baker 
John  Paige 
Josepli  Tucker 
Kieliard  Smith. 
Josepli  Todd 
Thomas  Selly 
David  Fowler 
Trustrim  Collins 


ou  may  think  meet  and  your  Peti- 
shall  ever  Pray. 

Samuell  Fowler 
Samuel  Walton 
Jeremiah  Wheeler 
Beniamin  Iloyt 
James  Jackman 
Elihu  Dow 
John  Eaton 
Noah  Dow 
Beniamin  Collins 
Bildad  Dow 
Judah  Dow 
Benony  Selle^' 
Samuel  Selly 
John  Eaton,  Jr 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Charter  granted  to  the  town 
of  South  Hampton,  N.  H.,  soon  after  the  time  it  was  set  off 
from  Salisbury  and  Amesbur^',  INIassachusetts,  in  1741  : 

[from    the    OKKilNAL    IN    THE    TOWN    CLERK's    OFFICE.] 

Froviucc  of  Ncio  Hampshire,  George  the  Second,  bij  the  Grace 
of  God  of  Great  Britain,  France  &  Ireland,  Defender  of  tlie 
Faith. 


To  all  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come. 

Greeting- 


\Z:.  , 

^  ^— , — '  ^  Know  yee,  That  we  at  the  Humble  Suit  and  Peti- 
tion of  Sundry  of  our  Leidg  Subjects  Inhabiting  a  Tract  of 
Land  within  our  Province  of  New  hampshire  in  New  Eng- 
land as  hereinafter  described.  Butted  &  Bounded,  Bordering 
on  the  Northern  boundary  Curve  Line  of  the  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay,  to  be  incorporated  into  a  Distinct  Par- 
rish,  have  for  divers  good  causes  &  considerations  us  moving. 
Granted  &  conlirm'd  to  the  said  Inhalntants  &  their  succes- 
sors. And  by  these  Presents  of  our  Special  Grace,  certain 
knowledge  &  nicer  Motion  for  the  well  ordering  &  Regulating 
the  atfairs  of  the  said  Parrish  Do  Grant  &  confirm  unto  the 
Said  Inhabitants  &  their  Successors  to  be  a  Town  or  Parrish 
Incorporate   by   the   name   of  South-Hampton    within    the 


71 

bonuds  rullowing,  viz  Bcgining  at  the  Atlantiek  Soa  or 
Ocean  on  tlie  East,  at  the  distance  of  three  miles  North  of 
the  nioiitli  of  the  River  Merriniacl^:,  &  from  thence  to  ran 
Northerly  to  the  bonnds  of  that  part  of  the  Town  of  Hampton 
called  liam[)ton  Falls,  &  thence  Westerly  pursning  the 
Bonnds  of  the  -Said  Tarrish  of  Hampton  Falls  to  the  I'arrislies 
of  Kensinton  &  Kingstown  as  has  been  reputed  to  have  been 
heretofore  agreed  upon  between  the  said  Towns  &  Salsljiiry 
&  Amsbury  &  Kingstown,  till  it  meets  a  White  Pine  Stamp 
in  a  Line  (;omonly  called  Shapleys  line,  &  from  P.  White 
Pine  Stump  due  South  two  miles  &  one  Quarter  of  a  mile  till 
it  meets  a  Stake  in  Mitchells  Line  that  Stands  in  a  hollow  or 
vale,  at  the  North  end  of  a  Road  &  on  the  Easterly  Side  of 
the  Said  Road  that  leads  from  Amsbury  across  the  Childrens 
Land  (so  called)  Said  Stake  Stands  three  miles  &  a  half 
South  .Seventy  Seven  degrees  &  half  AVest  from  the  South- 
west corner  of  the  New  Meeting  House  in  Said  Parrish,  In- 
cluding all  the  inhabitants- &  their  Estates  from  the  Said 
three  Miles  North  of  the  Ri\'er  Merrimac  Ijcgining  at  the 
Atlantic  Sea  or  AVestern  Ocean  on  the  East,  tt  running 
Northerly  from  Mitchels  Line  (as  determined  b}'  his  Majtie 
in  Council)  to  the  bounds  of  Hampton  Falls  Parrish  &  then 
AVesterly  on  the  Boiuids  of  Kensington  &  Kingstown  afore- 
said untill  it  meets  with  the  Said  AVhite  Pine  Stump  in  Sha[)- 
leys  line  So  called,  &  from  Said  Stump  due  South  two  miles 
and  one  Qaarter  of  a  mile  to  the  Stake  aforesaid  in  Said 
Mitchels  Line  neare  the  Childrens  land  (Excepting  the  Lands 
Estates  &  Poles  of  Jacob  French,  John  True,  Jona.  Hoit, 
.Iose[)h  Tucker,  Joseph  Page,  Samuel  Eaton,  Flphraim  Eaton, 
Kicliai'd  Smith,  Joseph  Todd,  Thomas  Selly,  David  Fowler. 
'I'ristam  Collins,  Samuel  Fowler,  Samuel  AVatson,  Jeremiah 
AVheeler,  Benj.  lloit^  James  Jackman,  Elihu  Dow,  John 
Eaton,  Noah  Dow,  Benj.   Collins,  Bildad  Dow,  Jiida  Deny, 

B(!nony  Sell}',  Samuel  Selly,  John  P^aton  Jun 

who  are  hereljy  annexed  to  tiie  Parrish 

of  IIani[)l()n  Falls  &  in  all  Res[)ects  incor[)orated  intcj  the 
I'ai-i-ish  of  Hanii)ton  Falls,  for  their  well  ordering  &  being 
Regulated  for  Pairish  alfairs,)  To  have  and  To  hold  all  tlie 
Privelidges  tfc  Inuuiities  of  a  Town  Corporate  &  to  be  ruled 
&  Governed  in  all  Respects  for  the  Said  Town  alfairs,  b\'  the 
laws  of  the  Pr(nince  of  Newhampshire  as  other  Towns  are. 
The  lirst  Town  Meeting  Shall  ))e  called  l)y  Joseph  Jewell, 
John  Flanders,  &  Henry  Cui'rier,  the  .Seventh  da}'  of  June, 
Next  l)y  Notification  in  Writing  Ijy  thein  Signed  &  allixed  to 
the  Meeting   H(M|sc   Dore   Seven    day's  at  least   belbre  the 


72 

hokliiiij,'  of  .Sucli  Meeting  &  afterwards  the  Town  Meetings 
Sliall  be  called  at  Such  times  as  the  affairs  of  Said  Town  may 
Require  in  Such  Manner  as  the  Laws  of  the  Province  of 
Ncwhampshire  hath  prescribed  for  Towns.  And  We  do 
further  by  these  Presents  for  us  our  Heirs  &  Successors, 
Grant,  Establish  &  Ordaine,  That  3'early  once  in  a  Year  & 
forever  hereafter  namely  the  first  Monday  in  March  Yearely 
there  shall  be  held  and  kei)t  l)y  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabi- 
tants of  Said  Town  a  Town  Meeting  at  their  Publick  Meeting 
Place  in  Said  Town,  &  there  b}'  a  Majority  of  the  Freeholders 
&  Inhabitants  presents  Legally  Qualified  to  Vote,  to  make 
Choice  of  all  Town  Ollicers  lor  the  Ensuing  Years,  and  to 
transact  any  other  alfairs  of  the  Town  as  other  Towns  & 
l*arishe.s,  according  to  the  Laws  of  the  Said  Pro^•ince  do  .  .  . 
In  Testimony  whereof  we  have  caused  the  Pulilick   Scale  of 

our   Said    Province    to    be    hereunto    affixed. Witness 

Benning  Wentworth  Esq.,  Governour  and  Commander  in 
Chief  in  and  over  our  Said  Province  of  Newhampshire  the 
twenty  fifth  day  of  May  in  the  fifteenth  3'eare  of  our  Reign, 
Aunoqr  Dom,  1742. 

B.  WENTWORTH. 

Province  of     ]  ^^^  ,       -,,,,     1-,  > 

^T       TT  V  JNovember  24th,  1 /42. 

New  Hampse  j  ' 

By  his  Excelencys  Comand 

With  the  advice  of  the  Council 
TiiEODOKE  Atkinson  Secy 


[fKOM   provincial    papers,   vol.    IX,    PAGE    763.] 

Petition  of  sundnj  inhabitants  at  the  ca^t  end  of  the  town  to  be 
set  off  to  Ilmupton  Falls. 

To  his  Excell-^  Bening  Wentworth  Es(f  Capt"  Gen"  and  Gov- 
ern"^  in  Chief  in  and  over  his  Majesties  Province  of  New 
Hampshire  in  N.  England  and  to  the  Hon'''''  his  Majesties 
Council  and  Representatives  in  Gen'  Court  assembled  "Sep- 
tem'"  14"'  1742. 

The  Petition  of  sundry  of  y"  Inhabitants  of  the  Est  part  of 
Salisbury  Avhich  by  the  riming  the  new  Line  fall  into  the 
Province  of  New  Hampshire  and  (as  we  are  informed)  are 
included  in  the  late  charter  granted  for  y'=  Township  of  South 
Hampton,  Humbly  JSheivcth: — That  we  the  subscribers  being 


73 

• 

comprehended  in  the  afores''  Charter  and  by  reason  thereof 
exposed  to  greater  hardships  and  nnreasonable  diMieuhies  as 
to  all  Parish  and  Town  art'airs,  l)eing  six  miles  or  more  dis- 
tant from  their  Meeting  honse,  Ave  cannot  with  onr  families 
attend  y''  pubUck  worship  there,  neither  can  we  have  y'"  priv- 
ilidge  of  voteing  in  their  pnl)lick  allairs  respecting  Town  or 
Parish,  for  if  their  meetings  are  warned  in  the  nsual 
Method  we  shall  have  no  knoAvledge  of  them,  or  if  l\y  chance 
we  hear  of  any  of  them,  sneli  is  the  distance  that  we  can't 
attend  them  ;  and  therefore  it  will  be  very  prejudicial  to  us  to 
stand  in  such  relation  to  them  with  whom  we  can  neither  do 
our  duty  nor  injoy  our  just  Rights  and  Privileges  ; — We 
therefore  pra}"  that  (as  the  rest  of  onr  Neighbours)  we  may 
be  set  otf  as  to  our  persons  &  P^states  from  the  said  Town  of 
South  Hampton  and  annexed  to  Hampton  Falls  there  to  do 
duty  and  injo}'  y*^  privilidges  of  Townsmen,  so  shall  y''  Peti- 
tion" ever  pray,  &c. 

John  Collins  Jonathan  Wnlton 

Sam'  Collins  Joseph  Norten 

Samuel  Smith  Jacob  Smith 

DaA'id  Norten  Eliphaz  Dow 


[from  records  in  office  of  secretary  of  state.] 

Act  of  December  4th  1742,  iwllimj  sundrti  persons  from  Soiit// 

Hmnptem  to  Hemijjton  Falls. 

Province  of  New  Hampshire. 

N-7  :32    J-  <~^— N  ,  Anno  Jiee/ui  regis  Georejii,   /Seoiiidi  Maepxt 

\\..ii.V      B>-ittania  Frcmcla  et  Hihernia    Dec! mo 

'-  ^— , — '  '       jSexto. 

AN  ACT  for  Taking  off  part  of  the  Town  of  South  ir.'iinploii 
in  s''  Province  &  annexing  of  the  same  to  Ilain[)toii  Palls. 
Whereas  Sundry  of  tlie  Inhabitants  of  SouUi  Hamilton 
afores''  have  Petitioned  the  General  Assembly  Sitting  forth 
that  by  reason  of  their  Distance  from  the  meeting  House  it 
was  very  Dilllcult  for  them  to  attend  the  Publick  AVorship 
And  other  atfaii-s  of  the  Town  usually  Ti-ansacted  th(>re  cV: 
thereu[)on  Praying  they  might  be  Set"  oil  to  the  Parish  of 
Hampton  falls  to  which  they  were  neai-er  which  ha\iug  been 
considered  &  api)earing  reasonable — 

Be  it  therefore   Pnacted  bv  his  PxcelcncN  the  ( iovernour 


74 

Council  it  representatives  in  Oenerul  Assembly  Convened  & 
by  the  Authority  of  the  Same  That  a  line  shall  be  Extended 
&  is  hereby  Determined  to  run  from  the  Dividing  Line 
between  the  Parish  of  Hampton  Falls  afores''  &  the  Parish  of 
Kinsington  to  the  Province  Line  or  Boundary  between  this 
Province  &  the  Province  of  the  IVIassaclmsptts  bay  being 
South  Four  Degrees  West  and  all  the  Inhabitants  &  tiieir 
Estates  Lying  to  the  East wanl  of  s'' Line  within  the  s''  |)art 
of  South  Hampton  shall  be  annexed  to  Hampton  Falls 
Parish  afores'' &  are  herein'  Determined  &  declared  to  I )e- 
long  unto  the  Same  to  all  Intents  and  Purposes  whatsoever 

Excepting  only  with  respect  to  the  Duty  of  mending  & 

repairing  of  highways  below  or  to  the  Eastward  of  s'' Line 
which  shall  be  done  by  the  s''  Inhabitants  (which  shall  Ex- 
cuse &  Exempt  them  from  that  duty  Else  were)  &  paying 
of  the  Province  Tax  which  they  are  to  pay  as  usual  until  a  new 
Proportion  or  further  order  of  the  General  Assembly  and  that 
ihey  pay  their  Tax  for  th(^  Present  Year  where  they  are 
allready  assessed. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  Decemb'  P''  1742. 
The  within  Bill  read  three  times  &  passed  to  be  Enacted. 

Axi)'-  WioGix,  Speaker. 

In  Council  December  the  4"'  1742. 
Read  Three  times  &  past  to  be  enacted. 

TlIEODORF.  AtKIXSoX.   Seclv. 

Eodem  Die 

I  assent  to  the  Enacting  the  I'oregoing  liill. 

Bxo.  "Wf.xtwouth. 

Recorded  according  to  the  original  Act  under  the  Province 
Seal.   • 

Y'"  TnF.()i)()RE  Atkixsox.  Sec''-^' 


SEABROOK  GRANTED. 

[XATIIAXIEL     BOUTOX,    D.D.,    IX     AOL.    IX.    PA(;E    821).    PKoVlX- 
CIAL    PAPERS.] 

Seabrook  was  formerly  a  part  of  Hampton  Falls.  It  was 
granted  June  3.  1768.  to  Jonathan  Weare.  John  Moultou 
and  others. 


75 

[from  sortH  iiAMPTOX  ^o^YN  records.] 
Agreement  as  to  taxation  between  South  Hampton  and  Sea/>rook. 

We  the  subscribers  and  Committees  of  the  towns  of  South 
Hampton  and  Seabrook  have  mutuall3'  agreed  this  14lh  day 
of  May  1795  to  settle  tlie  following  line  for  taxation  of  lands 
belonging  to  non-residents,  viz  : 

Beginning  at  the  south  easterl}'  corner  bounds  of  Kensing- 
ton then  running  a  straight  line  eastwardly  to  Batcheller's 
bound  (so  called)  near  Levi  Gove's  house  then  taking  the 
post  road  and  running  southerly  as  said  road  runs  initil  it 
comes  to  Cain's  brook  (so  called)  then  running  as  said 
brook  runs  initil  it  strikes  Shapley's  line  (so  called)  then 
running  eastwardly  as  said  Shapley's  line  runs  to  the  bound 
rock  (so  calUed)  at  Hampton  river's  mouth. 

Elisha  Brown  ) 

John  Smith 

Josiah  Dow  Selectmen  and 

Abraham  Dow  Committee  for 

Samuel  George        }■  Seabrook 


Jacob  Collins 
Joseph  Merrill 
Joseph  Jones  jr 
John  H.  Pillsiuny  J 


and 
South  Hampton. 


[from    new    HAMPSHIRE    PAMPHLET    LAWS    1822.] 

AN  ACT  to  eonfinn  and  estahlish  the  westerly  hofindery  line  of 
the  town  of  Seabrook. 

Sect.  1.  Be  it  enacted  b}-  the  Senate  and  House  of  Ive[)- 
resentatives  in  General  Court  convened,  That  the  line  be- 
tween the  towns  of  Kensington  and  Seabrook,  and  the  line 
as  determined  and  extended  b}^  an  act  of  the  Legislature, 
passed  December  4,  1742,  for  taking  off  part  of  the  town  of 
South-Hampton  and  annexing  the  same  to  Hampton  falls  ; 
and  the  same  line  extended  in  the  same  direction,  l)eing  south 
four  degrees  west,  to  the  present  line  between  this  state  and 
the  connnonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  shall  luM'eafter  be  the 
westerly  l)Oundary  of  the  town  of  Seabrook,  and  all  the  lands, 
non-resident  as  well  as  resident,  and  tlie  waters  lying  easter- 
ly thereof  to  the  sea,  shall  belong  to  the  town  of  Seabrook 
for  the  purpose  of  taxation  and  jurisdiction,  and  to  all  other 
legal   and    constitutional   intents    and    purposes    whatevei". 


T6 

Provided  hmveim\  that  any  part  tlioreof,  which  is  now  the 
pubhek  property-  of  the  town  of  Sonth-Hampton  shall  lio  ex- 
empt from  taxation  so  long  as  the  same  shall  Itelong  to  tliat 
corporation.  ^ 

Sect.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  thirty  cents 
shall  be  taken  from  the  jjroportion  of  public  taxes  established 
for  the  town  of  Soutli-Hampton  and  be  added  to  the  propor- 
tion of  the  town  of  Seabrook,  ami  that  the  Treasurer  shall  is- 
sue his  warrants  accordingly  until  a  new  proportion  of  taxes 
be  estalilished. 

Approved  June  2G,  1S22. 


[from    SALISnUUY    TOWN    RECORDS.] 

Agrennrrit  showuig  the  carl//  //is/uri/  of  Uic  pii>'^'Jna(jc  huuh. 
this  agreement  made  y''  tenth  Day  of  Jan-^  1743-4  Betwen 
ns  whose  names  are  here  after  written  being  a  Com'"'  for  y" 
Town  of  Salisbury  and  south  Hampton  that  is  to  say  we 
John  Morrill  Elias  Pike  John  Merrill  being  Leaguall}'  Chosen 
and  Impower'd  by  ye"  Town  of  Salislinry  in  y''  Connty  of  Es- 
sex and  Province  of  j-*"  Massachusetts  Bay  :  and  we  Reuben 
Dimond  P^phraim  Brown  Joseph  tfrench  Jun.  Leagually  Chos- 
en and  impowerd  l\y  y''  Town  of  south  Hampton  in  y*"  pro- 
\Mnce  of  new  hainpshire  as  b_Y  each  of  y"  t(nvn  Book  of  sd 
Salisliury  and  south  hampton  may  appear  to  agree  upon 
Divid  and  sett  off  to  sd  south  hamton  tliere  share  and  part 
of  all  y''  Lands  formerly  C4rantcd  and  Laid  out  by  y*"  town 
of  of  Salisbury  within  y"  ancient  P>ound  there  of  for  y*"  use  of 
the  Ministry  and  we  do  here  by  agree  that  the  town  of  south 
hamton  shall  have  hold  and  Injoy  for  the  use  of  their  minis- 
try as  followeth  viz  that  tract  of  Land  in  y"  mill  Division  so 
called  Lying  on  ye*"  southerly  side  of  y*"  highway  which  Leads 
from  SalislMuy  to  Kinston  y*"  northerly  part  or  end  of  which 
butts  on  the  sd  way  and  southerly  on  Powows  river  it  being 
y''  11th  Lot  in  sd  Division  and  Contains  about  twenty  seven 
acres  be  it  more  or  Less  and  also  eighteen  acres  of  y''  addi- 
tion which  a  former  Com"'  of  y''  Town  of  Salisbury  Laid  out 
to  y*"  sd  1 1th  Lot  which  sd  addition  Lj'cth  on  y*'  Northerly 
side  of  y*^  above  sd  way  y*"  said  eighteen  acres  to  liegin  at  y'' 
sd  way  and  to  extend  Northerly  till  y''  sd  eighteen  acres  be 
Compleated  saveing  a  Drift- way  from  y''  sd  way  in  y"  most 
Conveint  place  through  y''  sd  eighteen  acres  to  y^  remainder 
of  3'^  sd  addition  for  y''  ministers  of  Salisbury  to  pass  and  re- 


77 

[)ass  with  teams  and  to  Diite  Cattle  &e  and  wc  Do  finlher 
more  agree  that  y''  remaining;  part  of  y*^^  sd  addition  to^etlier 
with  all  other  Lands  marsh  or  meadow  Gh-ound  formerly 
Granted  and  Laid  out  for  _y''  use  of  y''  ministry  of  y^'  ancient 
town  of  8alis1niry  shall  for  ever  be  and  remain  to  y' 
nse  of  y""  ministers  of  y-  town  of  Salisbury  without  any 
Let  Cla'rae  or  Mollestation  liy  y''  Town  of  south  ham[)- 
ton  and  further  more  we  Do  agree  that  whereas  there 
has  been  an  action  Commenced  l)y  one  of  y''  Ministers 
f)f  Salisbnr3'  against  y"  Inhabitants  of  south  hamton  for 
a  trespass  upon  part  of  y*^^  Land  above  mentioned  and 
hereby  much  money  has  been  spent  we  Do  agree  that  each 
Town  shall  pay  their  own  cost  and  that  sd  minister  with  Draw 
sd  action  further  more  we  do  agree  the  Profits  if  any  be  of 
ye  fei-iy  hctween  Salisliury  and  Newlnny  shall  forever  lie  and 
remain  to  y'"  Town  of  Salislnny  witlK)ut  any  Lett  or  Claime 
Mollestation  by  y"  Town  of  south  hamton  wc  do  agree  that 
y""  Drift  way  above  mentioned  shall  be  on  that  of  y''  above 
sd  eighteen  acres  next  timothy  Townsends  Land  and 
also  that  those  people  that  were  taken  off  from  Salisbury  by 
y""  Late  province  Line  shall  Injoy  y''  sd  twenty  seven  acres 
and  y"  sd  eighteen  acres  above  mentioned  without  any  Lett 
or  Mollestations  by  y'^  Town  of  Salisbury — and  in  Confirma- 
tion of  y*'  agi-eement  we  the  said  Com*'"  in  Itehalf  of  y''  Town 
of  Salisbury  and  south  hamton  have  Interchanealily  set  too 
our  hands  the  Day  and  year  iirst  al)ove  writen. 

Elias  l^ike      |  Com'''  for 
John  Men-ill  j  Salisbury. 
Reuben  Dimond  |  Com*''  for 

Ephriam  Brown  j    South  hamton. 


[copy    from    ORKilNAL    IN    SKLECTMEN's    OFFICE.] 

Qidlchiim    Deed,  of  the    Nor/A  Fan^onrKje,    Inj    Ixcv.    Ndilniniil 

Noycft. 

Know  all  men  liy  tliesc  presence.  That  Nath"  Noyes 
Pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  South  liampton  in  tiie  Pro- 
vince of  New  hampshire  in  New  England  &  Minister  of  y'' 
Gospel  in  y''  Said  South  hampton,  for  divers  good  causes  & 
considerations  moving  viz  for  tlie  greater  benelit  &  y*"  better 
enal)ling  of  y*^^  town  to  Suppoi't  y''  charges  of  the  Gospel  hath 
remised,  released  &  forever  quit  claimed  &  1)y  these  presents 
for  him  self  and  his  heirs  dotli  fully  clearly  &  absolutely  re- 
mise, release  &  forever  (juit  claim  unto  Rich''  Collins  Inliolder 


78 

and  unto  Abel  French  &  unto  Abel  BroTvn  botli  Husband 
men  in  Soutli  hampton — being  Selectmen  &  appointed  bv 
y"  town  in  their  name  to  receive  as  is  now  quit  claimed  to 
tliem  &  tlieir  Successors  forever,  all  such  right  estate  Title,  In- 
terest &  demand  whatsoever,  as  he  the  sd  Natli"  Noyes  had  or 
ought  to  have  in  or  to  Sixteen  Acres  of  Parsonage  land  lying 
&  being  in  South  liamplon  aforesaid  &  bounded  Soutlierly  on  y"" 
lligliway,  Easterly  on  a  two  rod  higliway  &  Townsanil's  farm 
so  called,  Xortlierly  on  y"^  Salisbury  Ptu'sonage  land  &  west- 
erly on  John  Flanders  with  all  tlie  prvilegcs  &  appurtenances 
unto  ye"  Land  to  have  and  to  hold  unto  y"'  Said  Kich''  Collins 
Aliel  French  &  Abel  Brown  &  their  succesors  in  the  name  of 
y''  Town  of  tlie  Afores'^  .Soutli  hampton  to  the  only  use  benefit 
&  profit  of  the  afores''  Select  Men  &  Successors  for  ever  for 
to  be  expended  towards  y*"  Support  of  y*"  Gospel  in  South 
hampton  agreealile  to  the  original  grant  of  y''  Sd  Land  to  the 
Sd  town  of  South  hampton  so  that  neither  Said  Nath"  Noyes 
nor  his  heirs  nor  an}'  other  person  or  persons  for  him  or  them 
sliall  or  will  by  any  way  or  means  hereafter  done,  chalange 
or  demand  any  right,  Tile  [title]  in  any  part  or  Parcel  of  the 
Said  land — which  is  now  remised  I'cleascd  &  forever  cpiit 
claimed  to  y*^  aftoresaid  Select  Men  in  behalf  of  y''  s*^  town  & 
tlieir  Successor  to  be  used  &  improve  y'"  benefit  of  the  Sd 
laud  only  for  y^  aforesaid  purpose. 

In  witness  whereof  the  Said  Nath"  Noyes  hath  hereuto  Set 
his  hand  &  Seal  this  eighteen  day  of  May  Anno  Domini  One 
thousand  Seven  hundred  &  Sixty  three  &  in  the  third  year 
of  the  Reign  of  George,  the  third.  King  of  great  Britain    &c. 

Nath"  Noyes. 
Signed  Sealed  &  delivered  ,  ---—  ^ 

in  Presence  of  us —  \  l.  s.  [ 

Nath"  JMorrill.  ^  ^^  ^ 

Joseph  Merrill,  Jun. 


[from  office  of  secretary  of  state.] 

Record  of  a  vote  2ift-^sed  hi/  the  Town  of  South  Eamjdon.  allmv- 
ing  certain  inhaldtants  (f  the  Wcf^t  End  to  2ioIl  off,  with  (i  list 
of  their  mimes. 

At  a  Legal  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  South 
Hampton  July  7th  1748.  John  Page  Esq.  was  chosen  mod- 
erator. At  the  same  meeting  it  was  considered  that  whereas 
there  was  a  number  of  persons  that  live  at  the  west  end  of 
this   town    that  thinlc  the}'  can  better  accomodate  themselves 


79 

by  joining  with  their  neiglibors  for  a  meeting  honse  than  con- 
stantly to  asseml)le  with  ns  and  being  wilhng  to   shew   them 
all  Chi'istain  regard  and  kindness  (vote  that  all  those  persons 
that  lives  at  the  west  end  of  the  town  that  have  a  mind  to  go 
(ttf  shall  have  the  Liberty  to  poll  of  themselves  &  their  estates 
which    thcv    now    have    &  join  with  their    neighbors  in  the 
District  for  a  Parish  in  all  affairs  provided  thev  i)oll  olf  or  file 
a  list  of  their  names  withiiis  I^lxcellencv  the  (ioNcrnor  within 
tliirtv  days  from  the  day  of  date  hereof. 
\'()ted  in  the  allirmative. 
A  trne  copy  attest. 
Ruben  Diamond,  Town  C'lok. 

Jonatlian  Farren  Roliert  Martin 

jNIichacl  lloit  James  George 

'Thcf  Tux])iny  David  Colby 

Tho'  Carter  Zachens  C()ll)y 

Benja  Carter  Jonathan  Kimball 

Orland  Carter  Aaron  Cnrrier 

Benj"  Kimball  Tho*'  Jewell 

.    'John  Carter  Phillip  Cliallis 

Sam'  Carter  Daniel  Goodwin 

Jacob  Colby  Tho'^  Greenfield 

Rogles  Colby  Nathanel  Ash 

Nathan'  Colliy  Aliraham  Meri'ill 

Jonathan  Watson  David  Goodwin 

Roger  Easman  Zebnlon  Farren 

Sam'  Goodwin  John  Eliot 

Province  of  New  Hampshire 
There  certif}^  that  the  List  of  the  names  above  mentioned 
were  Entered  with  his  P^xcellency  the  Governonrand  Lodged 
in  the  Sect3's  office  the  Seconday  of  August  1748. 

Attest  Theodore  Atkinson  Secv. 


[from    office    of    SECRETAllY    OF    STATE.] 

.Ir/  o/'  March  22nd,  1740,  pnlHncj  Un'rhi  Han///    Uiniip/nH    iiuni 
to  NcK!  Toivn.. 

New  IIami)shire  |  George  the  Second  by  the  Gi-nce  of  God  of 
l'i()\inc('  f)f      j       Great  Lrittain  Frances   &   L'cl;iiid   King 
Defender  of  the  faith  &c 
,. — ' — >  ,       To  all  Peoi)le  to  whom  the  Presents  Shall  come 
\  1,.  s.  ^  Greeting. 

^  ■^. — '  •'       AVhereas  The  Town  of  South  Hampton  within  our 
l^r()vince  of  New  Hampshire  aforesaid    for   Divi-rsc   <>;ood    & 


80 

Lnu(lal)le  motives  «fe  Considerations  theveunto  movino-  Did 
Voluntnril}'  at  a  Town  meetino-  held  in  Said  Town  by  Inlial)i- 
tants  tliereof  on  the  7"'  Day  of  Jnly  Anno  Domini  1748  Pass 
a  Vote  in  the  following  words  viz  :  "That  all  those  Persons 
that  Live  at  the  AVesfEnd  of  this  Town  that  have  a  mind  to 
goe  oft"  Shall  have  the  Liberty  to  Poll  of  themselves  &  their 
Estates  whieli  they  now  have  &  joyn  Avitli  their  Neighbours  in 
the  District  for  a  Parish  in  all  affairs  Provided  they  Poll  off" 
or  file  a  List  of  their  names  with  his  Excelenc}'  the  Gover- 
nonr  within  thirty  Days  from  the  Date  hereof.  And  for  as 
nnu'h  as  Jonathan  Farren,  Michael  Hoit  Tho'  Tnxbnry 
Thomas  Carter,  Benj''  Carter  Orlando  Carter  Benj"  Kimball 
John  Carter,  Sam'  Carter,  Jacob  Coleby,  Rnggles  Coll\y 
Nath'  Coleliy,  Jon''  "Watson,  Roger  Eastman,  Sam'  Goodwin, 
Robert  Martin,  James  George,  David  Colli}'  Zacheus  Coll\v, 
Jonathan  Kimball,  Aaron  Currier,  Tho'^  Jewell,  Phillip 
Challis,  Daniel  Goodwin  Tlieo  Greenfield  Nathaniel  Asli 
Al)raliam  INIerrill,  DaA'id  Goodwin,  Zebulon  Farren,  &  John 
Eliot  all  Inhalntants  in  the  West  End  of  Said  Town  of 
South  Hampton,  Did  file  a  List  of  their  names  with  B. 
Wentwoi'th,  Esq.  our  Governor  of  our  said  Province  &  the 
same  was  filed  in  the  Secy's  office  of  onr  afores*^  Province  on 
the  Second  Da}"  of  August  1748  within  the  thirty  days  in  the 
above  recited  Vote  of  the  aforesaid  Town  of  South  Hampton 
meantioned,  and  agreeable  to  the  Intent  &  tenor  thereof. 

Now  know  ye  that  for  and  in  Consideration  of  the  alcove 
mentioned  vote  &  at  the  request  of  the  Several  Parties  there- 
in Concerned  We  have  tho't  fit  by  further  the  advice  of  our 
Trusty  &  well  beloved  Benning  AVentworth  P2sq''  our  Gover- 
nour  &  of  our  Council  of  our  s''  Province  of  N.  Hamps.  to 
order  and  ordain  that  the  aforesaid  Jonathan  Farren  Michael 
&c.  with  theirs  &  each  of  their  Estates  the}'  now  have  in  said 
Town  of  South  Hampton  be  &  liereb}'  are  order'd  Declared  & 
ordained  to  be  Polled  &  set  off"  from  acting  or  A'oting  with 
the  Town  of  South  Hampton  afores'^  in  an}'  of  their  Town 
aft"airs  excepting  what  does  or  may  relate  to  the  repairing  or 
mending  the  high  ways  within  the  Limits  of  the  said  Town  of 
South  Hampton  afores''  with  respect  to  which  aftaii's  they  are 
to  act  &  be  governed  as  tho  no  A-^otc.or  order  had  Past  there- 
on and  are  hereby  together  with  the  Instates  they  have  in 
South  Hampton  as  also  all  Persons  that  shall  succeed  them 
in  any  or  either  of  them  in  the  improving  of  said  estates 
Declared  to  be  Polled  off  &  annexed  to  Newtown  witliin  our 
Province  afores''  there  to  vote  and  act  with  s''  Newtown  in  all 
their  Town  aftairs  as  fully  to  all  Intents  &  Purposes  as  any 


81 

other  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Town  can  or  may  do  excepting 
what  dos  or  may  relate  to  the  mending  or  repairing  the  High- 
ways witliin  the  Limits  of  Newtown  which  they  and  Each  of 
them  are  hereby  Exempt  from  they  having  tlie  Liberty  of 
Voteing  witli  &  are  Subject  to  the  Legal  Directions  of  the 
Town  of  South  hampton  aforcs'S  of  all  which  all  Persons  con- 
cerned are  to  take  Due  notice  hereof  &  Govern  themselves 
accordingly. 

Li  TesUmony  whereof  we  have  Caused  the  Seal  of  our  Said 
Province  to  be  hereunto  alfixed.  AVitness  B.  AVentworth 
I-Cs(j''  our  Governour  &  Connnander  in  CliietF  of  our  Prov.  of 
N.  Ilamp  afores''  this  '22''  Day  of  March  174'J  &  in  the  23" 
year  of  our  reign, 

B.  WENT  WORTH. 

r.y  his  Excellencys  com"  with  advice  of  Council. 

TiiEODOKi:  AxKiNsiON  Sectv. 


[f1!0M    rKOVICIAL    I'AI'KKS    VOL.     IX,    rAOK    775.] 

PiliLioii    fur    sctllm;/  fh<    Hue  hclivcrn  Hok/Ii  Hatii])lun  and  Neiv- 

lotrii. 

Province  of  \  To  his  Excellency  John  Wentworth,  Esq'' 
New  llamps'"  j  Captain  General,  Governor  and  Command- 
er in  Chief  in  and   over  the  Province  of 

New  Haini)shire,  the  Honourable  his  IMaJesty's  Council  and 

house  of  Representatives  in  General  Assembly  conveni'd. 

The  Petition  of  us  the  Subscril)ers  being  a  Committee  chosen 
for  the  Town  of  South  Hampton,  Most  humbly  shoiueth  : — 

That  the  said  Town  of  South  Hampton  sulfer  great  incon- 
veniences for  want  of  a  Line  settled  and  estabhshed,  between 
the  said  Town  of  South  Hami)ton  and  the  Town  of  New  Town, 
there  lacing  more  than  Twenty  persons  in  said  South  Hamp- 
ton, wliich  claim  to  ))elong  to  Newtown,  part  of  whom  might 
be  as  well  acconnnodated  by  being  joyned  to  South  Hami)tou, 
:uid  a  numljer  more  of  South  Ham|)ton  that  might  )je  as  Avell 
accommodated  by  being  joyned  to  Newtown.  Your  petition- 
ers therefore  pray  a  Line  may  be  settled  between  the  said 
Towns  in  such  a  nianuer  as  not  to  enlai-ge  the  one  at  the 


82 

expense  of  the  olher  lint  to  make  buQi  e(|ual  lo  which  they 
now  are,  and  that  a  Conunittee  may  be  appointed  to  inquire 
into  the  eireumstanees  of  the  case  and  Report  such  a  Line  as 
may  etlect  tlie  purposes  aforesaid  :  and  yoiu-  Tetitioners  as 
tliey  are  in  duly  bound  will  ever  [)ray,  &c. 

Phihi)s  White 
Aljel  Brown 
Moses  Freucli 
Soulli  IIani[)lon.  Decern'' 
I'J'"  1770. 


[from    OI-l'ICE    OF    SKCRETAKY    OF    STATk] 

A''f  nf  1772,     Es/iifilts/>i)/.(/    the    Line    br/irrn)     Su/////     Hnmpfni) 
uml  Ncicton. 

Anno   Ileipd    Rei/is    Geovijii     7\'rtu    Miiijtur    BrUaniti'i 
Fraticiui  Hibenum  Duo  decimo. 
AX  ACT  to  establisli  a  deviding'  line  l)etwcen  the  Town  (jT 

Southampton  and  the  ToAvn  of  Newtown, 

"Whereas,  pursuant  to  a  petition  of  a  Committee  chosen  by 
the  Town  of  Southampton  in  behalf  of  said  Town,  a  Comtee 
of  the  General  Assembly  hath  been  appointed  to  settle  the 
line  between  the  said  Town  of  Southampton  and  the  said 
Town  of  Newtown,  &  the  said  Comtee  after  reviewdug  the 
premises  and  hearing  both  parties,  have  reported  that  liic 
tlividing"  line  between  the  said  Towns  should  begin  at 
the  Province  Line  at  a  place  called  Pond  Brook,  and 
from  thence  should  rini  westerly  by  the  highway  that  leads  to 
Pliilip  Currier's  Dwelling  House  until  it  comes  to  land  of  saiil 
Currier,  and  from  thence  Northerly  on  the  line  between  the 
land  of  said  Phil''  Currier  &  the  land  of  Challis  Currier  to 
tlie  Highway  that  leads  towards  said  Challis  Currier's  House, 
thence  Northerly  on  the  Westerly  side  of  the  said  Highway 
luitil  it  comes  to  land  belonging  to  Lieut.  Thomas  Tewks- 
bur^',  thence  Southerly  and  Westerly  b}-  said  TewksburA's 
laud  &  land  of  the  Widow  Judith  Currier  until  it  comes  to 
the  Highway  near  Charles  Collins  House,  thence  Nortli 
Easterh'  on  the  East  side  of  the  Highwin-  that  leads  to 
Bugsmore  Hill,  so  called,  until  it  comes  opposite  to  the  Nortli 
Easterly  corner  of  Jonathan  Kimball's  land,  thence  across 
said  Road  AVesterly  between  said  Kimball's  Land  &  Land  of 


the  aforesaid  Liout  Thomas  Tewksbmy,  &  1)etweonsaid  Kiin- 
liall's  land  &  land  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  Timothy  Bagley, 
deceased,  nntil  it  comes  to  the  lload  that  leads  to  Aspen  Hill, 
so  called,  thence  Northerly  on  the  Easterly  side  of  said  Koad 
nntil  it  comes  opposite  to  the  North  Easterly  corner  of 
Aaron  Cnrrier's  land,  thence  across  said  Road  &  running 
Northwesterly  by  said  Aaron  Currier's  Land  until  it  comes 
to  Kingstown  Line,  which  report  being  read  &  appearing  to 
)>e  reasonable  and  just  &  no  opposition  being  made  thereto. 

lie  it  therefore  enacted  by  the  Governor,  Council  &  Assem- 
1)ly  That  the  Line  before  descriljcd  between  the  said  Towns 
be  and  hereby  is  estaljlished  to  be  the  dividing  line  between 
llie  said  Towns  of  Southampton  and  Newtown.  And  all  the 
land  &  Inhaljitants  now  belonging  to  either  of  said  Towns 
that  are  situated  to  the  Eastward  of  said  Line  shall  hereafter 
be  deemed  to  all  intents  and  purposes  as  belonging  to  and 
part  of  the  Town  of  Soutliami)ton.  And  all  that  are  situated 
to  the  westward  of  said  line  shall  hereafter  1)c  deemed  to  all 
intents  and  [)urposes  as  belonging  to  and  part  of  the  Town 
of  Newtown. 

Troviuce  of  )  In  the  House  of  RcpresenLatives  Jan'y  3d 
New  Ham[)shirc  j  1772. 

This  Act  having  been  read  a  Ihird  lime.  Voted  that  it 
pass  to  1k'  enacted. 

J.  Wentworlh,  Speaker. 

In  Council  January  4th  1772.  This  l)ill  was  read  a  3d 
time  and  [)assed  to  be  enacted. 

Tiieodore  Atkinson,  Secretary. 

Conseuled 

J.  Wentw(jrth. 

Recorded  acccjrding  to  the  original  act  under  the  Provinc^e 
Seal. 

Attest : 

Theodore  Ati\inson  Sect'v. 


[li;OM    PKOVINf  lAl,    I-APICKS    VOK.     VIII,    PACK    284.] 

Nd.iiics  of  Iho.sc  ill  tionlh    //(Uiijilon    iclio   sijiiiid   llu:    A-'<wci(i/io/i 

Test. 
We  the  Subscribers,  do  hei-e1)y  solenuily  engage  and  i)ro- 
niise  that  we  will  to  the  utmost  of  our  I'ower,  at  the  Ris(pie 


84 


of  our  Lives  and  Fortunes,  with  Arms,  oi^pose  tlie  Hostile 
Proceedings  of  the  Britisli  Fleets  and  Annies  against  the 
United  American  Colonies. 


r.  AVhitc 
Henry  Freneh 
Hemy  Freneh,  Jr. 
James  French 
( )bcdiah  French 
Daniel  French 
]']lihu  French 
Isaac  Brown 
Reuben  Currier 
Rob'  Long 
Thnothy  HuntuigLon 
Nathaniel  Flantlers 
William  (craves 
Jos  i  ah  Rogers 
l>avid  Graves 
Stephen  Rogers 
Samuel  Peiree 
William  Cooper 
numphrey  Pierce 
]\[oses  Pierce 
Humphrey  Peiree  Jr 
Tho-    Shepherd 
Richard  Fitts 
Nathan  Fitts 
Eliphelet  INIerrill 
James  lledlock 
Plnlip  Flanders 
Jacolj  Jones 
Josiah  Sawyer 
Richard  Sawyer 
Israel  Sawyer 


Ezekiel  Clough  Mr 

Nathan  Ciu'rier 

Cliallis  Currier 

J(jlm  Currier 

Richard  Currier 

Louis  Hadlock 

Jaeolj  Barnard 

Joh  Pilsbcry 

Enos  George 

Parker  Flanders 

Er  Colby 

Ezekiel  Flanders 

Timothy  Flanders 

Daniel  Jones 

Nieiiolas  Currier 

Nathaniel  Rowell 

Isaiah  Dole 

Jonthan  Dow 

Timothy  Ikuitinton  (? 

Moses  Flanders,  I 
sui)scribe  Provided 
that  the  act  or  ad- 
vice of  the  said 
Contiuential  Con- 
gress be  complied 
with  Respecting 
minute  men. 

Ednuuul  Pilsbury 

Barnard  Currier 

E|)liraim  Carter 

Aljcl  French 


Benjamin  Clough 
Abel  Brown 
N.  Noyes 
Thomas  Tuxbury 
Merrill  Flanders 
Onesipliorus  Page 
Richard  Currier  Flan- 
Rich''  Collins      [ders 
Philip  Osgood 
Ezekiel  French 
Josejjh  Jones,  Jr 
Joseph  Jones 
Joseph  ]\[errill 
Barnard  Flanders 
Philip  Flanders 
Thomas  Currier 
Jona  Prasa 
Benjamin  Brown 
) Enoch  Page 
Richard  Greele 
Moses  French 
Jacob  Dole 
Daniel  Page 
Ebenezer  French,  Jr 
Ilenery  Tuells  P 
Benjm"  Barnard 
Josiali  Flanders 
Elijdielct  IMcrrill  Jr 
Daniel  Colby 
William  Clough 

85. 


Colony  of  New  Hampshire — 

South  Hampton  June  24"'  177G. 
Agreable  to  tlu'  within,  we  have  Desired  the  males  in  sd 
Town  to  sign  the  Declaration  on  this  pa[)er  &  It  hath  been 
complied  with  by  all  so  desired  excepting  those  whose  names 
are  hereafter  mentioned. 

Jeremiah  Flanders 

Isaiah  Fhmders 

Jeremiah  Flanders  Jr 

CIrrislopher  Flanders —  4. 


Abel  French 
Joseph  Merrill 


1^ 


Selectmen 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


bW 


jewexx  - 


S6^J^     Religious  his- 
tory of  South 


Hampton,   N.  H. 


BR 

560 

S65J5 


a   o^^cdi^M    urorary 

BR560.S65   J5 


L  009  544  939  3 


